Belle epoque (1992)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Fernando Trueba

Writers:

Rafael Azcona (screenplay)
Rafael Azcona (story)

Release Date:

25 February 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Plot:

In 1931, a young soldier (Fernando) deserts from the army and falls into a country farm, where he is...

Plot Keywords:

Soldier | Love | Village | Spanish | Cook

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 24 wins & 13 nominations

Cast

Penélope Cruz	...	Luz
Miriam Díaz Aroca	...	Clara (as Miriam Díaz-Aroca)
Gabino Diego	...	Juanito
Fernando Fernán Gómez	...	Manolo
Michel Galabru	...	Danglard
Ariadna Gil	...	Violeta
Agustín González	...	Don Luis
Chus Lampreave	...	Doña Asun
Mary Carmen Ramírez	...	Amalia
Jorge Sanz	...	Fernando
Maribel Verdú	...	Rocío
Juan José Otegui	...	El cabo
Jesús Bonilla	...	Soldier (El número)
María Galiana	...	La Polonia
Joan Potau	...	Paco (as Juan Potau)

Also Known As:

Belle époque (France)
The Age of Beauty

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

Spain | Portugal | France

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | Argentina:13 | Canada:18A | Chile:14 | Finland:K-14 | Peru:14 | South Korea:18 | UK:15 | USA:R | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Arruda dos vinhos, Lisbon, Portugal

Company:

Animatógrafo

Trivia:

When accepting his Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, director (Fernando Trueba) said: "I would like to believe in God in order to thank him for this prize, but I only believe in (Billy Wilder), so... Thank you, Mr. Wilder!". Wilder himself reportedly phoned Trueba a few days later for acknowledgment and told him: "Hello Fernando, I'm God".

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Amalia sings "En un pais de fábula" from Pablo Sorozábal's zarzuela "La tabernera del puerto". The situation of the movie is in early 1930s, whereas this zarzuela was first staged in 1936.

Movie Connections:

Featured in La silla de Fernando (2006)

Sex in the country

Fernando Trueba's film was awarded a few prizes when it was shown originally. On second viewing recently, I thought it was perhaps over praised. This story of a Spain before its own Civil War is picaresque in tone, and doesn't predict what will happen in the country in a few years, as it plays for whatever laughs it can get.

Fernando makes out like a bandit. After deserting the army, he ends up befriending Manolo, a local artist. Manolo is an anarchist, but that doesn't mean he is best friends with the local priest, who by the way, feels at home in the church as well as in the local brothel. Trueba is perhaps telling us about the duplicity of the clergy in Spain.

Fernando ends up making love to Manolo's four daughters. Even Violeta, who is a lesbian, has her turn with Fernando, but only when he has dressed as a woman for the local carnival. There are no jealousies from any one of the sisters because each one has her turn in a civilized way, or the way it should be!

Fernando Fernan Gomez is the patriarch Manolo. As always, he delivers. Jorge Sanz, as the rascal Fernando, is not as effective as in other films. Maribel Verdu is fine as Rocio, the sister who wants to get married to the local rich boy, Juanito, but she has no problems in having a good time with Fernando. Penelope Cruz, before Hollywood, is effective as Luz, the youngest sister. Finally, Chus Lampreave makes a funny appearance as Dona Asun, the mother of Juanito.