Torremolinos 73 (2003)

Directed by Pablo Berger

Starring Javier Cmara, (Bad Education) Candela Pea, (All About My Mother)

1970s Spain, a married couple are caressed (by the money) into making what they believe are educational adult films that will only be sold in Scandinavia. Little do they realise that the films are actually sold as porn movies until the wife is stalked one day in a shopping centre only to be asked for her autograph in a porn mag. Although taken aback she has other things on her mind, she desperately wants a baby but after testing she finds out that her husband has a zero sperm count, the only thing she tells her husband is that they cant have children (he assumes its her problem). 

The husband decides he wants to direct his own proper film (the Torremolinos 73 of the title), they are funded and the film is completed but with the addition of a hard core final scene which as his financial backer tells him is to help sell it in the Scandinavian countries. He is shocked that his wife agrees to partake in this but is even more upset when he finds out why!

Very early into the film, the husband becomes obsessed with film making and with Ingmar Bergman, Torremolinos 73 is a direct rip, story and style-wise of several of Bergmans films, The Seventh Seal in particular but with all the trappings of a Spanish resort. The porn is dealt with in a delightfully amateurish and fairly subtle way which is a joy and pretty truthful to most films of this type from the 70s. As for the settings, they are spot on, the dcor, the clothing and the furnishings, everything is perfect. The film was obviously a labour of love and it is a pleasure to watch from start to finish.

Thoroughly recommended, a genuinely enjoyable experience, definitely worth a rental.

Cheers Trev

BBFC rated 15.

Region 2 Pal dvd available from Tartan video.