Sex and Lucia (2001) Lucía y el sexo (original title)

Director:

Julio Medem

Writer:

Julio Medem

Release Date:

24 August 2001 (Spain)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

Various lives converge on an isolated island, all connected by an author whose novel has become inextricably entwined with his own life.

Plot Keywords:

Island | Love | Novel | Writer | Waitress

Awards:

9 wins & 17 nominations

Cast

Paz Vega	...	Lucía
Tristán Ulloa	...	Lorenzo
Najwa Nimri	...	Elena
Daniel Freire	...	Carlos / Antonio
Elena Anaya	...	Belén
Silvia Llanos	...	Luna
Diana Suárez	...	Madre de Belén
Javier Cámara	...	Pepe
Juan Fernández	...	Jefe
Charo Zapardiel	...	Comadrona
María Álvarez	...	Enfermera (as María Alvarez)
Javier Coromina	...	Camarero Chiringuito (as Javier Corominas)
Arsenio León	...	Futbolista
Alesandra Alvarez	...	Luna 1 año
David Bulnes	...	Actor porno

Directed by
Julio Medem

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Julio Medem

Produced by
Fernando Bovaira	....	producer
Anna Cassina	....	executive producer
Enrique López Lavigne	....	producer
Luis María Reyes	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Alberto Iglesias

Cinematography by
Kiko de la Rica

Film Editing by
Iván Aledo

Casting by
Sara Bilbatúa

Art Direction by
James David Goldmark
Montse Sanz

Set Decoration by
Víctor Molero

Costume Design by
Estíbaliz Markiegi		(as Estibaliz Markiegui)

Makeup Department
Arturo Balceiro	....	special effects makeup technician (as Arturo Balseiros)
Antoñita viuda de Ruiz	....	wig maker
David Martí	....	special effects makeup supervisor
Montse Ribé	....	special effects makeup supervisor
Gregorio Ros	....	makeup artist
Juan Valverde	....	hair stylist (as Juan Rodríguez Valverde)
Adolfo Vila	....	special makeup effects assistant

Production Management
Anna Cassina	....	production manager
Teresa Cepeda	....	production manager
Iñaki Rubio	....	production supervisor
Eugenia Soler	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lucia Cassani	....	assistant director
Txarly Llorente	....	first assistant director (as Txarli Llorente)
Almudena Martín de los Santos	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Natalia Affray	....	assistant props
Remedios Castillo	....	laborer
Francisco Cañadas	....	laborer
Marco Chaverri	....	laborer
Puerto Collado	....	design of Luna's House
Duncan Cuesta	....	construction laborer
Enrique Del Val	....	laborer
Nicolás J. Franca	....	laborer
Jon Garay	....	props
Helena García Mármol	....	assistant props
Raquel Gibanel	....	laborer
Apostolos Gkaranis	....	assistant decorator
Rafael Hernández	....	laborer
Mikel Izaguirre	....	property master
Koldo Jones	....	assistant props
Miguel A. Julián	....	laborer
Salvador López	....	props
Pedro J. Mas	....	construction laborer
Eduardo Mira	....	construction laborer
Víctor Molero	....	assistant set decorator
Natalia Montes	....	storyboard artist
José Luis Moya	....	construction coordinator
Ramón Moya	....	construction manager
James Nigel	....	construction laborer
Lorenzo Pepe	....	assistant props
Francisco Javier Pueyo	....	laborer
César Roca	....	laborer
Sergio Rozas	....	storyboard artist
Peio Villalba	....	props
Adolfo Álvarez	....	laborer

Sound Department
Polo Aledo	....	assistant sound editor
Antonio Alfara	....	assistant sound editor
José Luis Crespo	....	sound engineer
Enrique Domínguez	....	assistant sound mixer
Clarissa Farrán	....	sound re-recordist
Patrick Ghislain	....	foley mixer
Sonia Lozano	....	sound production assistant
Gadou Naudin	....	foley artist
Gadou Naudin	....	sound effects editor
Agustín Peinado	....	sound
Manuel Peinado	....	boom operator
Alfonso Pino	....	sound mixer
Javier Santoni	....	trainee sound technician
Santiago Thévenet	....	sound editor (as Santiago Thevenet)
Ricardo Viñas	....	dolby sound consultant
Alejandro Vázquez	....	trainee sound technician

Special Effects by
Merche Arque	....	special effects makeup technician
Arturo Balceiro	....	special effects makeup technician
Xavi Bastida	....	special effects makeup technician
Antonio Castillo	....	special effects technician
Manuel Floriano	....	special effects technician
David Martí	....	special effects makeup supervisor
José M. Meneses	....	special effects technician: DDT
Juan Ramón Molina	....	special effects supervisor
Montse Ribé	....	special effects makeup supervisor
Adolfo Vila	....	special effects makeup assistant

Visual Effects by
Carmen Aguirre	....	digital effects art director
Helmuth Barnert	....	digital compositor
Iñaki Bilbao	....	digital effects editor
Juanjo Carretero	....	digital effects technician
Nacho Cepero	....	digital compositor
Daniel de Madrid	....	backdraft
Iñaki Gil	....	CGI chief operator
Noelia Gorrón	....	digital effects producer
Enrique Jiménez	....	digital effects technician (as Kike Jiménez)
Javier Luján	....	graphics programmer
Javier Martínez Calvo	....	graphic designer
Patricia Matiskei	....	digital compositor
Gonzalo Moure	....	digital compositor
Alfonso Nieto	....	digital effects coordinator
Alfonso Nieto	....	digital effects design
Alfonso Nieto	....	digital effects designer
Alfonso Nieto	....	digital effects supervisor
Marcos Onaindia	....	digital compositor
Raul Ortego	....	digital compositor
Beatriz Quijada	....	CGI operator
Álvaro Rodríguez	....	digital effects producer
Telson S.L.	....	digital post production & effects
Juan Tomás Sánchez	....	second editor: digital effects (as Juanio Sánchez)
Raúl Sánchez	....	digital compositor
Silvia Torralba	....	digital effects producer
Jon Uriarte	....	CGI operator
Rodrigo Vega	....	CGI operator
Óscar Villalba	....	backdraft

Stunts
Enrique Benito	....	stunts
David Bulnes	....	stunt double: Tristán Ulloa
Ignacio Carreño	....	stunt coordinator
María del Mar Morilla	....	stunt double: Paz Vega
Diana Suárez	....	stunt double: Paz Vega

Camera and Electrical Department
Asier Altuna Iza	....	chief electrician (as Asier Altuna 'Koo')
Josu Cejuela	....	electrician
Iñigo Fernández Ostolaza	....	video assistant
Antonio Fernández Santamaría	....	key grip
Elías Fernández	....	electrician
Joaquín Fernández	....	assistant camera
Raúl García	....	assistant camera
Sebastián Hernandis	....	camera operator
José Hernández	....	electrician
José Manuel Herrero	....	assistant camera
Josu Inchaustegui	....	Steadicam operator
Josu Inchaustegui	....	second camera operator
Diego López Calvin	....	still photographer
Paco Mayo	....	chief electrician
Francisco Javier Merino	....	key grip (as Javier Merino)
Francisco Ramos	....	key grip
Irene Ramos	....	trainee assistant camera
Francisco Javier Roa	....	camera operator: making-of documentary
César Roca	....	electrician
Usue Sanz	....	assistant camera
Francisco Sánchez	....	key grip
Joan Tomás	....	still photographer
Xavier Torres	....	grip
José Luis Ávila	....	electrician

Casting Department
Macarena Pombo	....	casting assistant
Ángel Salve	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Luis Alberto Gómez	....	trainee costume designer
Sofía Medem	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Iván Aledo	....	assistant editor
Felisa Catalinas	....	negative cutter
Pepe Cruz	....	color timer
Enrique Domínguez	....	assistant editor
Manuela Díaz	....	post-production: Sogecine
Eladio Fernández	....	post-production: Sogecine
Carmen Mesa	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Javier Casado	....	musician: keyboards and piano
Dominique Deguines	....	musician: fagot
Salvador Espasa	....	musician: flute
Carmen Guillem	....	musician: oboe
Jesús Herreros	....	musician: clarinet
Cristian Ifrim	....	musician: viola

Transportation Department
Lorenzo Cortijo	....	driver: camera car
Antonio de Bernardo	....	driver (as Antonio Martín de Bernardo)
Ángel Frutos	....	driver
Juan Carlos Fuentes	....	driver: costumes car
Juan Garcés	....	driver: costumes car (as Juan C. Garcés)
Andrés García	....	driver: production car
Óscar Girón	....	driver
Carlos González	....	driver: production car
Juan Luis Grande	....	driver
Miguel Ángel López	....	driver
Carmelo Morón	....	driver: camera car
Joaquín Rodríguez	....	driver: decoration car
Javier Sánchez	....	driver: production car
Francisco Teijido	....	driver
Pablo Trasancos	....	driver

Other crew
Tatiana Agredante	....	vigilante
Pablo Alfaro	....	financial director: Sogecine
Piti Alonso	....	publicist
Pablo Bernuy	....	second production assistant
Cristina Boch Moreno	....	producer: making-of
Beatriz Bodegas	....	legal department: Sogecine
Antonio Canalejas	....	guard
Blasco Cañete	....	guard
Eduardo Chapero-Jackson	....	production controller: Sogecine (as Eduardo Chapero)
José Luis Costa	....	production coordinator
Pedro Luis de la Torre	....	production coordinator
Patricia de la Uz	....	production collaborator
Javier de Oleza	....	administration staff: Sogecine (as Javier Oleza)
Fernando Esteban	....	legal department: Sogecine
Nuria Garcia Atienza	....	marketing: Sogecine (as Nuria Garcia)
Rosa Garcia Merino	....	head of publicity
David García	....	production collaborator
Juan Manuel García	....	guard
Marga García	....	marketing: Sogecine (as Margarita García)
Pedro García	....	cashier
Antonio Giménez	....	marketing: Sogecine
Montserrat González	....	legal department: Sogecine (as Monsterrat González Tovar)
Carlos Gómez Ayuso	....	making-of: execution
Carlos Haro	....	technician: info tv
María Hellín	....	marketing: Sogecine
Mar Henche	....	cashier
Alfonso Jadraque	....	location manager
Javier Leal	....	manager: laboratory
Jesús López Bonilla	....	production coordinator
José Luis López	....	guard
Susana Maisterra	....	production collaborator
Javier Martín	....	accountant: Sogecine
Luis Martín	....	cashier: Sogecine
Javier Martínez	....	title designer
Mónica Martínez	....	production controller: Sogecine
José A. Mateo	....	production collaborator
Marta Murcia	....	production collaborator
Patricia Murcia	....	first production assistant
Amaya Muruzabal	....	production controller: Sogecine
Eva Muslera	....	production controller: Sogecine
Montse Ordorica	....	script supervisor (as Montserrat Ordorica)
Guillermo Peña	....	manager: laboratory
María J. Pérez	....	guard
Juana Ramos	....	administration staff: Sogecine
Cecilia Rubio	....	legal department: Sogecine
Maki Rubio	....	story editor
Francisco Sanchez Ortiz	....	marketing: Sogecine (as Francisco Sánchez Ortíz)
Charo Santamaría	....	administration staff: Sogecine
Germán Sela	....	marketing: Sogecine
Carlos Subirats	....	guard
Julio E. Valencia	....	guard
Gregoria Victoria	....	assistant to producer
François Vila	....	press agent
Bárbara Yacobi	....	production secretary
Aurora Yúfera	....	production secretary (as Aurora Yúfera Ponte)
Daniel Zabaco	....	guard
Jorge Zarca	....	accountant: Sogecine
Simón de Santiago	....	international sales (uncredited)

Thanks
Montse Sanz	....	dedicatee

Production Companies

• Alicia Produce
• Canal+ España
• Sociedad General de Cine (SOGECINE) S.A.
• Sogepaq
• StudioCanal
• Televisión Española (TVE)

Distributors

• Warner Sogefilms A.I.E. (2001) (Spain) (theatrical)
• A-Film Distribution (2002) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Colifilms Distribution (2002) (France) (theatrical)
• Fandango (2003) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Kamras Film Group (2002) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Metro Tartan Distribution Ltd. (2002) (UK) (theatrical)
• Movienet (2002) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Palm Pictures (2002) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Primer Plano Film Group (2002) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Xenix Filmdistribution (2002-2003) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (200?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Impuls Home Entertainment (2003) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• Irfan Film (2002) (Turkey) (all media)
• Madman Entertainment (2004) (Australia) (DVD)
• Mongrel Media (Canada)
• Palisades Tartan (2009) (UK) (all media)
• Sundance Channel (200?) (USA) (TV)
• Trimark Video (2003) (USA) (VHS)
• Vendetta Films (2001) (New Zealand) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2007) (Finland) (TV) (TV1)

Special Effects

• Telson (post-production facilities)
• D.O.T. Efector Especiales (special effects)
• Molina Efectos Especiales (special effects)

Other Companies

• 2001 Cine, Televisión y Publicidad  extras casting
• Artistic Palace  foley studios
• Auto Cadenas  production vehicles
• Bluescreen S.L.  underwater filming
• Compañía Espreso  cafeteria
• Construcciones Escénicas Moya S.L.  set construction
• Construcciones Pepe Burchés  set construction
• Cámara Rent Internacional S.A.  camera equipment provided by
• DYP Comunicación  press office
• El Igloo P.C. S.L.  editing
• El Igloo P.C. S.L.  post-production
• Exa S.A.  sound mixing
• Expert Ejecutivos  security
• Faunópolis  animals
• Grip Performance  grip equipment
• Info TV Producciones S.L.  high definition camera provided by
• Julián Ruiz S.L.  hair styling and makeup
• Legiscine  social security
• Madrid Film S.A.  HDTV to 35 mm transfer
• Mariano Cárdenas Iluminación S.L.  electrical equipment
• Miguel Polo Sonido S.L.  walkie talkies
• Rafael Hosteleria Internacional S.A.  catering
• Red Led  sound recording and mixing
• S.A.T. S.L.  cranes
• Servicevision System S.A.  electrical equipment
• Telson  digital post-production
• Viajes Esmérita S.A.  travel agency
• Ángel Megino  transportation

Also Known As:

"Lucía y el sexo" - Spain (original title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexual content and language (cut)

Runtime:

128 min

Country:

Spain | France

Language:

Spanish | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Australia:R | Finland:K-15 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:III | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:15 | Peru:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Zurich) | UK:18 | USA:R (cut) | South Korea:18 | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:R (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Portugal:M/16 | Italy:VM14 (re-rating) (2005) | Italy:VM18 (original rating) | USA:TV-MA (TV rating) | Chile:14 | USA:NC-17

Filming Locations:

Formentera, Balearic Islands, Spain

Company:

Alicia Produce

Trivia:

The movie is divided in two chapters: "Lucía" and "El Sexo" which gives its title to the movie.

Quotes:

Lorenzo:The first advantage is at the end of the story. It doesn't finish, it falls in a hole. And the story starts again halfway. The other advantage, and the biggest, is that you can change course along the way... If you let me. If you give me time.
Elena:All the time you want.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Cuestión de sexo: Gonzalo y el sexo (#2.8)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Yo Marco el Minuto

Meta-story and story

This is one of the better structured movies ever put to screen. It's as complex as Lynch's Lost Highway, but that only adds to the experience. A non-linear structure (in time and space) is applied and Lucia y el Sexo blurs the line between reality and imagination.

Basically, it's like Mulholland Drive: Most of what we see is a dream, imagination. Only a relatively small part did really happen. But this goes one step further: What part is in the eye of the beholder here, because little clues are given so the mystery format is only used to keep us entertained at a basic level.

A writer is the center here. Some parts of his life are probably true (trouble at home, sickness), others are ambiguous, others are certainly imagined. He is in the meta-story, but also places himself in threads in the other stories that come from his imagination. His imagination is formed by applying smaller and larger events (meeting a person at a party, seeing someone in front of the house) in his personal life to his fantasies. His erotic fantasies explain the title, as sex is one of the characters of the story. One of the story lines is again about his script read on the island by one of his imagined characters. Writing the story and telling the story is done simultaneously. As he becomes sick, the characters become helpless in the story. Overall it helps a lot if you keep imagining that you're watching imagined characters being manipulated by the writer. This combines meta-story and story, real with imagination, weaving several threads in a complicated web of story lines. In the end, it is made clear that the story doesn't end but starts again halfway, giving further evidence that viewers can use their imagination at random on this and create their own story out of it.

The meta-story is interesting, but by mixing it with the story itself we see the real story as what it is, a writing trick with imagined characters. That unfortunately diminishes the emotions a movie tries to convey. We're merely watching how a movie is structured, with the imagined story not having the usual dramatic impact.

It's remarkable that so many people are offended about the sex scenes, as it's already in the title. Do they also complain about the presence of aliens in Alien? I found the sex scenes to be made with some honesty; and at least they didn't even shy away of male nudity.