TORREMOLINOS 73
Year: 2004
USA: First Run Features
UK: Tartan Films
Cast: Javier Camara, Candela Pena, Juan Diego, Malena Alterio, Fernando Tejero, Mads Mikkelsen, Ramón Barea Jose, Thomas Bo Larsen, Nuria Gonzalez, Marivi Bilbao, Ana Wagener, Jaime Blanch, Maximo Valverde, Carmen Machi, Tina Sainz, Bjarne Henriksen
Director: Pablo Berger
Countries: Spain / Denmark
Language: Spanish (English subtitles)
USA & UK: 91 mins
UK Certificate: 15 contains strong sex and language
USA Release Date: 15 April 2005 (Limited Release - New York)
UK Release Date: 24 June 2005
(in Spanish)
Synopsis
TORREMOLINOS 73 is a dramatic comedy set in Franco's puritanical Spain of the early 1970s. The film tells the story of an encyclopedia salesman named Alfredo Lopez and his lovely wife Carmen.
One day Alfredo's boss at Montoya Publishers makes a unique proposition that will change their lives forever. He asks them to make their own amateur Super 8 erotic movies, which will be distributed as part of a phony "Danish World Encyclopedia of Reproduction." At first they're shocked, but they decide to be part of this "experiment" -the films will only be sold in Scandinavia, Carmen wants to have a baby, and they badly need the money anyway.
Their walk on the wild side begins with an intensive course at a tacky motel, where they learn how to make these "scientific" movies on both sides of the camera. Much to their surprise, the movies soon become runaway hits. Alfredo discovers his passion for filmmaking, and Carmen becomes a "domestic porno star" in Scandinavia. Everything falls into place, and they begin to enjoy the fruits of their success.
There's only one problem. Carmen can't get pregnant, although Alfredo tries very hard, and the tension between the artist and his muse grows. Inspired by Ingmar Bergman, Alfredo embarks on his dream project - an artistic feature film called TORREMOLINOS 73. His boss agrees to produce it, and with a full crew of Danish actors and technicians, Alfredo and Carmen head to a wintry Torremolinos for their date with destiny. Once there, our lovable heroes discover that not all that glitters is gold, and a surprising ending resolves our story.