Tristan, a teen ager living with his parents and his crusty old grandfather in Madrid, is awakening to sex. He secretly lusts after his pretty school teacher, even though she has a problem walking. In other words, Tristan is experiencing the normal changes as boys become adults. He even arranges to have sex with a call girl when his parents go on a belated honeymoon trip to Paris. Before he can have that experience, he receives word his parents had been killed.
Tristan's world comes crashing on him. He is a young man, but he must deal, suddenly, with the situation presented by the grandfather who has a chronic lung problem and needs attention. Because of something that happened between Tristan's mother and her sister, they had not spoken to each other in years, but when tragedy occurs, she comes to offer a helping hand, but Tristan is not ready to accept.
This is the moment when Lucia, his beautiful cousin appears on the scene. She wants Claudio, her boyfriend, to come stay with Tristan and his grandfather. After the arrangement is made, Lucia and Claudio can't keep their hands from one another, engaging in sex, right there, something that doesn't sit well with the young boy.
When the grandfather asks Tristan to take him to his village for a visit, the two bond in ways they never did in Madrid. Unfortunately, the old man passes away in an untimely death and Tristan has to face an even more uncertain future.
This bittersweet story by David Trueba, is about one of his few movies we have liked. The film, although played as a comedy, reflects the tragedy in Tristan's life and how he must come to terms with himself and the way he will face the world. The screen play was also written by Mr. Trueba, who shows insightful, but is never heavy in dealing with what Tristan's life has given him.
The work of Fernando Ramallo, who was discovered by the director, is amazing. This young actor seemed a natural then, something that was made clear by his other screen appearances, mainly in "Krampac". Lucia Jimenez is sweet as the cousin who comes to Tristan with an ulterior motive and ends up loving him. Luis Cuenca does a fine job as the crusty grandfather. Joel Joan appears as Claudio.
This is a fine film dealing with young people suddenly awakening to the real world. It's perhaps David Trueba's best work of his career.
Tristan's world comes crashing on him. He is a young man, but he must deal, suddenly, with the situation presented by the grandfather who has a chronic lung problem and needs attention. Because of something that happened between Tristan's mother and her sister, they had not spoken to each other in years, but when tragedy occurs, she comes to offer a helping hand, but Tristan is not ready to accept.
This is the moment when Lucia, his beautiful cousin appears on the scene. She wants Claudio, her boyfriend, to come stay with Tristan and his grandfather. After the arrangement is made, Lucia and Claudio can't keep their hands from one another, engaging in sex, right there, something that doesn't sit well with the young boy.
When the grandfather asks Tristan to take him to his village for a visit, the two bond in ways they never did in Madrid. Unfortunately, the old man passes away in an untimely death and Tristan has to face an even more uncertain future.
This bittersweet story by David Trueba, is about one of his few movies we have liked. The film, although played as a comedy, reflects the tragedy in Tristan's life and how he must come to terms with himself and the way he will face the world. The screen play was also written by Mr. Trueba, who shows insightful, but is never heavy in dealing with what Tristan's life has given him.
The work of Fernando Ramallo, who was discovered by the director, is amazing. This young actor seemed a natural then, something that was made clear by his other screen appearances, mainly in "Krampac". Lucia Jimenez is sweet as the cousin who comes to Tristan with an ulterior motive and ends up loving him. Luis Cuenca does a fine job as the crusty grandfather. Joel Joan appears as Claudio.
This is a fine film dealing with young people suddenly awakening to the real world. It's perhaps David Trueba's best work of his career.