Between Your Legs
(1999)
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Between Your Legs
(1999)
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Victoria Abril | ... |
Miranda
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| Javier Bardem | ... |
Javier
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Carmelo Gómez | ... | |
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Juan Diego | ... |
Jareño
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| Sergi López | ... |
Claudio
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Javier Albalá | ... |
Juancar
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| María Adánez | ... |
Juani
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Carmen Balagué | ... |
Begoña
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Manuel Manquiña | ... |
Manuel
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Víctor Rueda | ... |
Azucena /
Jacinto
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Salvador Madrid | ... |
Inspector jefe
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| Roberto Álvarez | ... |
Anastasio
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Alberto San Juan | ... |
Rojas
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Charo Zapardiel | ... |
Marina Salinas
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Àngels Bassas | ... |
Lola
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Miranda is a crew member of a nightly radio programmme. She and her husband Felix, a cop, are parents of a girl. Miranda's daily dog walking strolls are excuses to pursue sexual encounters with men, who she readily discards afterwards. In order to deal with her sex addiction, she signs up for therapy. Also in the group is Javier, a successful scriptwriter and producer who is a sex-phone junkie. The two misfits hit off and a steamy affair ensues. But things get a little complicated when Javier finds out that this phone sex trysts have been secretly taped and being distributed all over Madrid, and that his ex-wife is living with his business partner. Elsewhere, while investigating a murder case, Felix discovers Miranda's affair with Javier. Written by L.H. Wong <lhw@sfs.org.sg>
... the Crying Game, and a few other pieces of current day cinema, he just might come up with such a little gem.
This work manages to lovingly captivate the audience which misses dear old Alfred. From the smartly nuanced opening credits, through the twists and turns of post-reveal story structure, to bringing the whole thing to a close using the ambivalent actions by *both* male leads- not masterful, but deft, and compelling. Nifty stuff.
I can see Hollywood attempting a remake (a la Vanilla Sky) and completely bolloxing it up, too.
Erotic, but not so much as the title and cover art might have you think-the title should actually be translated as "Between the Legs," a sort of comment on what kind of trouble the libido can stir up.
Confusing it wasn't, as a second viewing (well worth it) confirmed. Subtitles are adequate and a capacity for Spanish no necesita.
PS The "distasteful rape scene" mentioned in one comment baffles me and must have been a figment to that reviewer. The character was actually suffering what could be called a post traumatic stress flashback. It rang true to that character, and was necessary as the device to explain what really went on in the previous 01:50 of screen time. Held me right to the end.