Spain

  • Clive Gordon – Cargo (2006)

    2001-2010AdventureClive GordonDramaSpain

    This taut, cerebral thriller by award-winning documentary filmmaker Clive Gordon showcases an outstanding cast and a smart, multilayered screenplay. In this intensely crafted drama, a young backpacker, Chris (Daniel Bruhl), is traveling around Africa when he gets into trouble, loses his passport, and decides to stow away aboard a rusty cargo ship to flee the local police and get back to Europe. Discovered shortly after putting to sea, he quickly realizes that this is no ordinary voyage: it features a crew of hopeless, possibly even deranged, men; a mysteriously inscrutable captain (Peter Mullan), who holds absolute sway over the inhabitants of this insular floating isle; and a ship that seems to be burdened by untold secrets.Read More »

  • Eugenio Martín – Réquiem para el gringo AKA Duel in the Eclipse (1968)

    1961-1970ClassicsEugenio MartínSpainSpanish cinema under FrancoWestern

    Gringo is a notorious gunfighter. After his brother is tortured and killed by bandits, Gringo joins the group to eliminate them one by one from the inside! A nice looking and somewhat offbeat movie starring Lang Jeffries with Femi Benussi, Fernando Sancho, Carlo Gaddi, Rubén Rojo, Aldo Sambrell , Carlo Simoni, Giuliana Garavaglia, Glenn Saxson, Ángel Álvarez and Marisa Paredes.
    Lang Jeffries, Fernando Sancho, Femi Benussi, Carlos Gaddi. A unique Euro-western with the hero as an astrologist who wears a leopard suit. Sure, there’s a revenge theme, but overall this is a different brand of spaghetti. It’s very moody and feels like a Euro-horror film in spots.Read More »

  • Juan Antonio Bardem – A las cinco de la tarde (1960)

    Juan Antonio Bardem1951-1960DramaSpain

    Synopsis
    The title refers to the common time for bullfights, and the story involves an ambitious young torero on his way up the ladder of success, and an older one on his way down, a bitter view of the popular Spanish spectacle.
    (imdb)Read More »

  • José Antonio de la Loma – Timanfaya (Amor prohibido) AKA Timanfaya (Forbidden Love) (1972)

    1971-1980José Antonio de la LomaRomanceSpain

    Quote:
    In the Canary Islands there is a love story between a young and attractive woman, dissatisfied in her marriage to a man older than her, and a handsome sculptor of her age who lives in a bohemian way.Read More »

  • Jesús Franco – La sombra del judoka contra el doctor Wong AKA The Shadow of Judoka vs. Dr. Wong (1985)

    Jesus Franco1981-1990Martial ArtsSpainThriller

    Review by Nzoog Wahrlfhehen
    Dr. Wong (Jess Franco) sends his thugs to eliminate Mr. Jung. The “judoka shadow” of Bruce Lyn (José Llamas) is cast against a wall, swearing to take revenge. Meanwhile, Lina Romay and Albino Graziani, both of whom work for the British secret service, investigate Jung’s murder. Wong is also out to eliminate Macedo, a Filipino gangster involved in dubious dealings, with the purpose of having the whole market to himself. But Bruce and his judoka shadow (which does the fighting for him) interfere with his plans, leading him to send the beautiful Honey Eyes to do him in. Honey Eyes sets a trap for Bruce, but the latter is saved in the nick of time by the British agents. What follows are numerous fights and chases until Bruce and Dr, Wong finally meet, face to face. The issue is raised of a boat bearing a heroin cargo. The two secret agents find the boat, though this turns out to be manned by two corrupt millionaires. Bruce Lyn arrests them but then, on recalling that his masters had taught him to be compassionate, sets them free.Read More »

  • José Gaspar – Joselito o La vida y muerte de un matador AKA Joselito or The Life and Death of a Matador (1920)

    1911-1920DocumentaryJosé GasparSilentSpain

    Synopsis
    Documentary about the bullfighter ‘José Gómez’ alias ‘Joselito’, who died in the bull ring of Talavera de la Reina.
    (imdb)Read More »

  • Rodjara – Dimorfo AKA Dimorphic (1980)

    1971-1980CampCultQueer Cinema(s)RodjaraSpain

    Quote:
    This is one of the most weird, bizarre and oscure movies from Spain. Very hard to find nowadays and a total masterpiece for the collectors of hidden spanish gems.

    The plot is about a man, Salomon, living in a hermit in the forest. He scaped from a concentration nazi camp and falls in a house in the middle of the mountains where a strange family lives there.

    Illness, Sex, Homosexuality, rape, violence… rated “S” in Spain in those years.

    The quality is very good and this is the uncut version, 95 minutes. Only for lovers of strange movies.Read More »

  • Antonio D’Agostino – Eva man (Due sessi in uno) [Uncut XXX Version] (1980)

    1971-1980Antonio D'AgostinoEroticaExploitationQueer Cinema(s)Spain

    Quote:
    Beautiful Eva, hermaphrodite from birth, with clear signs of both sexes, under the strict guidance of his uncle, Professor, masters the secrets of sexual energy, which give the possibility of a Superman. But an angry gangster steals it, with the help of a doctor-villain to move into the body of eve and take over the world. He tries to prevent his rival, who is going to deprive the girl masculinity and thus not to let it turn into Superman…Read More »

  • Jesus Franco – Botas negras, látigo de cuero (1983)

    Jesus Franco1981-1990CultExploitationSpain

    Quote:
    Private eye Al Pereira was one of Jess Franco’s recurring characters – in fact, maybe his only recurring hero. A genuine noir type who always accepts cases he should have let pass, who always loses his heart to the wrong floozy fatales, who usually comes out of a case worse than he went in, he was introduced in 1962’s “077 Operacion Jamaique” with Conrado San Martin playing the part. Then Eddie Constantine took Al around the block in 1965’s “Attack of the Robots,” followed by Howard Vernon in 1972’s “Les Ebranlées” and Olivier Mathot in 1975’s “Midnight Party.” After two test drives as a similar character named Al Crosby in “La chica de las bragas transparentes” (1981) and “La noche de los sexos abiertos” (1983), Antonio Mayans resurrected the role and became its definitive interpreter in this movie. It was followed by four other adventures – the last being Franco’s very last film, the recently released “Al Pereira vs. the Alligator Ladies” (2013).Read More »

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