El palo (2001)

Director:

Eva Lesmes

Writer:

Luis Marías (writer)

Release Date:

4 May 2001 (Spain)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Lola's a single mom, broke, working as a janitor and maid. Silvia is pregnant, and her lover (her boss) won't leave his wife...

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Adriana Ozores	...	Lola
Malena Alterio	...	Violeta "Pecholata"
Maribel Verdú	...	Silvia
Carmen Maura	...	Maite
Juan Gea	...	Director
Jaime Pujol	...	Gustavo
Joaquín Climent	...	Enrique
Antònia Martínez	...	Abuela
Alejandro Sigüenza	...	Daniel
Omar Muñoz	...	Felipe
Pep Guinyol	...	Cajero
Francisco Casares	...	Inspectór Policía (as Paco Casares)
Chelo Vivares	...	Monja
Diana Palazón	...	Luisa
Lina Mira	...	Vanessa

Also Known As:

The Hold-Up (International: English title)

Runtime:

87 min | Argentina:87 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival)

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Spain:T | Australia:M

Company:

Bocaboca Producciones

Soundtrack:

De amor ya no se muere (Non si puo morire dentro)

Classy entertainment with a dollop of seventies ideology.

The women's movement catches up with Spanish movies belatedly with this accomplished 'scope caper comedy. Compare the also female oriented "Nosotros." . Four variously oppressed females band together to do a bank job which keeps on going wrong. The separated cop husband's pistol getting switched with the toy replica is a particularly nice touch.

The usually elegant Verdu gives the impression of enjoying being transformed into a ditsy, pregnant hairdresser but each of the leads gets a great innings. The men are all caricatures.

The big screen vista shots of suburban sprawl punctuate the action nicely. The technical work is as good as anything we see and underlines the excellence of new Spanish entertainment movies.