The debut of Jess Franco as director couldn't be better. This is a masterpiece that deserves its place in any Top 10 lists of the director (although it is impossible to select just 10 films, I would need at least a Top 50).
The fact is that I watched it three times and, the most I see it, the most I love it. There is absolutely nothing to be changed here. This is an essential item in the director's filmography, not only because it is his first feature film, but also and foremost because of its premonitory tone. Yes, many of the trademarks of Jess are already included here. Do you want some examples?
Two beautiful girls united by a close friendship as protagonists;
A woman doing a perfornance in a nightclub. Carmen Lozano needs to be remembered at least for being Jess' first showgirl;
Several cinematic and literary references;
The sea, a constant element in Jess imaginary, makes its debut here;
The constant conflict between illusion and reality.
Contrary to what one could think, this is not a mere escapist comedy, but the early expressions from a revolutionary artist. His authoral mark is all over the place What starts as a funny ironic comedy ends as a bitter drama, not due to inconsistency in the script, but as a reflection of the change of mentality experienced by Maria José and Pili (played extraordinarily well by Isana Medel and Terele Pávez). After spending most of the movie in their fantasy world, they wound up facing the serious aspects of real life. They became adults, after all. The event that led the girls to see things differently was their tragic encounter with a bank robber, who asked them for help in escaping. The excellent Luis Pena, as the victim of circumstances, protagonizes one of the strongest moments in the history of cinema, one of those scenes that we never forget.
To dream or face reality? That is the big point of reflection lifted by this cinematic gem.
The fact is that I watched it three times and, the most I see it, the most I love it. There is absolutely nothing to be changed here. This is an essential item in the director's filmography, not only because it is his first feature film, but also and foremost because of its premonitory tone. Yes, many of the trademarks of Jess are already included here. Do you want some examples?
Two beautiful girls united by a close friendship as protagonists;
A woman doing a perfornance in a nightclub. Carmen Lozano needs to be remembered at least for being Jess' first showgirl;
Several cinematic and literary references;
The sea, a constant element in Jess imaginary, makes its debut here;
The constant conflict between illusion and reality.
Contrary to what one could think, this is not a mere escapist comedy, but the early expressions from a revolutionary artist. His authoral mark is all over the place What starts as a funny ironic comedy ends as a bitter drama, not due to inconsistency in the script, but as a reflection of the change of mentality experienced by Maria José and Pili (played extraordinarily well by Isana Medel and Terele Pávez). After spending most of the movie in their fantasy world, they wound up facing the serious aspects of real life. They became adults, after all. The event that led the girls to see things differently was their tragic encounter with a bank robber, who asked them for help in escaping. The excellent Luis Pena, as the victim of circumstances, protagonizes one of the strongest moments in the history of cinema, one of those scenes that we never forget.
To dream or face reality? That is the big point of reflection lifted by this cinematic gem.