El cochecito (1960)

Seventy-something Don Anselmo, a retired minister, becomes obsessed with owning a motorized wheelchair and fakes infirmity to get it.

Director:

Marco Ferreri

Writers:

Rafael Azcona (novel), Rafael Azcona (screenplay),

Stars:

José Isbert, Pedro Porcel, José Luis López Vázquez

3 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview:
José Isbert	...	Don Anselmo Proharán
Pedro Porcel	...	Carlos Proharán
José Luis López Vázquez	...	Alvarito
María Luisa Ponte	...	Matilde
Antonio Gavilán	...	Don Hilario
Lepe	...	Don Lucas
Chus Lampreave	...	Yolanda (as María Jesús Lampreave)
Ángel Álvarez	...	Álvarez
Carmen Santonja	...	Julita (as Mari Carmen Santonja)
Antonio Riquelme	...	Doctor
María Isbert
Jesusa de Castro
Antonio Jiménez Escribano

Storyline

Septegenarian Don Anselmo Proharan, a retired government minister, finds himself sharing living space with his son, a penurious, bourgeoisie solicitor and his family. Don Anselmo, a widower, is restricted to one room of the house, and his social life has narrowed to attending wakes, funerals, and visiting the cemetery. When his paraplegic friend Don Lucas, gets a motorized wheelchair, Proharan accompanies him to his wife's grave to leave flowers. Don Anselmo soon becomes obsessed with getting his own "little coach" and joining the subculture of other "cochetito" owners. However when his tight-fisted son refuses to buy one for him, the old man tries several gambits to get one.

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Plot Keywords:

motorized wheelchair | paraplegic | flowers | cemetery | widower | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish French

Release Date:

29 June 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Little Coach

Filming Locations:

Madrid, Spain

Box Office

Gross:

ESP 396,717 (Spain)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Films 59, Portabella Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Álvarez: [to Don Anselmo] Where 300 people eat, 301 eat as well.

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Connections

Featured in The Story of Film: An Odyssey: Episode #1.7 (2011)

User Reviews

Azcona + Isbert = masterpiece

All of the friends of Anselmo (Pepe Isbert, a genius) have their own disabled-adapted little cars, they go anywhere they want: to the main square, to the country... Anselmo's on his own, and he feels lonely. No way! He decides he also wants one of those cars (doesn't matter if he's not a disabled person) and he'll do ANYTHING to get one: to pretend he's been left paralyzed, to steal... WHATEVER it takes.

"El cochecito" is nothing but a classic of Spanish cinema (or of cinema in general) and such a referent of European realism. It is a so funny comedy written by Rafael Azcona (maybe the best Spanish scriptwriter ever) and placed on the impoverished streets of Madrid (late 50's).

You MUSTN'T miss this one (not if you love cinema).

*My rate: 9/10