Cuestión de suerte (1996)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Rafael Moleón

Genre:

Crime | Thriller

Plot:

A good-looking young guy living in a village on the Basque coast is set to marry his sweetheart. A series of events pose obstacles...

Plot Keywords:

Basque | Sex | Abandoned Car | Spain | Landlady

Cast

Anna Galiena	...	Marie
Eduardo Noriega	...	Julio
Marta Belaustegui	...	Pili
Leire Berrocal	...	Concha
Simón Andreu	...	Ricardo
Ion Gabella	...	Alfonso
Mikel Garmendia	...	Padre
Ana Miranda	...	Madre
Paco Sagárzazu	...	Señor
Maiken Beitia	...	Dependienta
Paco Hernando	...	Camarero
Daniel Trepiana	...	Cliente
Mikel Laskurain	...	Ertzaina 1
Angel Alkain	...	Ertzaina 2
Isidoro Fernández	...	Médico

Also Known As:

A Matter of Luck (Australia)
Question of Luck (USA) (DVD title)

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Certification:

Singapore:R21

Entertaining thriller

Having lost his job at the fish factory, Julio (Eduardo Noriega) now on the dole needs some cash urgently to set up a new project with his friend Alfonso in Madrid. Things look pretty grim until Julio unexpectedly discovers a bag of stunning jewellery in a car parked in bushes just off the highway. The driver is already dead at the wheel. A gentle push after releasing the brakes and the car hurtles down into the sea. The plan now is to lie low for awhile and then turn the jewels into much-needed cash.

A great opening. What I like so much about this drama is that no time is wasted. The story starts to unfold immediately. Ans what a story!What an exciting series of events!

Unfortunately for Julio his simple plan smacks of amateur inexperience. He makes some stupid moves. Renting a room at 11 PM at Marie's (locally known as the French woman) immediately creates suspicion about his motives. Julio is very uneasy with Marie's probing questions and well may he be. He quickly realises that she is becoming aware of his intentions. This is a very interesting part of the story in which each tries to discover how much the other knows. Marie is clearly the winner in this contest because she has the power of seduction on her side. Julio melts at the sight of this older and experienced woman. The sex scenes are convincing. Eventually the lovers become partners in the proposed disposal of the jewels through Ricardo. Julio begins to find himself in deep water. Mounting fear of being found out drives him to desperate action. The French woman cunningly manipulates Julio to execute her own plans. Despite his guilt we have a certain empathy for young Julio, but not so for Ricardo who drives a hard bargain. The character of Ricardo, I feel. is over played and some of the final sequences with Marie rolling around the floor turn into utter melodrama. Apart from these minor points the film is excellent. As it twists and turns the story is quite compelling; and although we may anticipate some of the action, the journey to the final scene is quite worthwhile.

Footnote: Is Eduardo Noriega Spain's answer to American Tom Cruise?