Reviews & Ratings for
Peppermint Frappé More at IMDbPro »

9 out of 11 people found the following review useful:
almost worthy to bunuel, 6 January 2000

Author: bgilch from Montreal, Quebec

Anyone familiar with Bunuel will find a treat of similar proportions in Peppermint Frappe's fascinating study of a fetishistic mind. This film is so carefully gripping that its mild-manneredness hides its thriller nature; instead, the film favours a meticulous reconstruction of a man's past desire projected into a vertiginous present he now creates. For all the layered desire and sexual tension, however, it is the subtle power of sublimation that works best. Consider the long, breath-taking seduction scene of the radiologist, the nurse & the rowing machine. The art direction is excellent and the opening credit music is great. Where the film loses its edge is in the direction, which is not as skilled as that of the dedicatee. This is more noticeable at the end, where the camera movement gives way to freeform and has a very dated late 60's look. A pivotal song in the film is likewise hard to take seriously. Still, the film is mesmerizing & scenic, & Jose of the 4 names- the radiologist, gives a tremendously controlled performance. It's his film and he carries it brilliantly. Ana, the nurse, is excellently portrayed as well. Overall, fascinating but not sharp enough

10 out of 13 people found the following review useful:
powerful, haunting,a great work by saura, 25 December 1998

Author: anonymous

A very proper, very religious and very conservative doctor is infatuated by his best friend's free spirited wife, who in turn is faithful to his liberal husband Spain during Franco.but this is far from everyday love triangle melodrama ,since this is only a metaphor for Spain during Franco . How does a man belonging and believing in a repressive society act? Magnificent performance by Geraldine Chaplin makes this film one of the best I have seen of Carlos Saura.Not surprisingly, the film is dedicated to Luis Bunuel.

4 out of 11 people found the following review useful:
mighty powerful , haunting, 19 December 1998

Author: anonymous from flossmoor, il

A very proper, very religious and very conservative doctor is obsessed with his long-time friend's wife, and because the events happen during the Franco repression , he acts according to the dictates of time and place :Extermination! the film is dedicated to Luis Bunuel.A very political, expressionist film.

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