El cochecito (1960)

Seventy-something Don Anselmo, a retired minister, becomes obsessed with owning a motorized wheelchair and fakes infirmity to get it.

Director:

Marco Ferreri

Writers:

Rafael Azcona (novel), Rafael Azcona (screenplay)

Stars:

José Isbert, Pedro Porcel, José Luis López Vázquez

3 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
José Isbert	...	Don Anselmo Proharán
Pedro Porcel	...	Carlos Proharán
José Luis López Vázquez	...	Alvarito
María Luisa Ponte	...	Matilde
Lepe	...	Don Lucas (as Jose A. Lepe)
Ángel Álvarez	...	Álvarez
Antonio Gavilán	...	Don Hilario
María Isbert
Chus Lampreave	...	Yolanda (as Maria Jesus Lampreave)
Carmen Santonja	...	Julita (as Mari Carmen Santonja)
Eusebio Moreno
Tiburcio Cámara
José Luis Heredia	...	(as Heredia)
Anteno
Antonio Jiménez Escribano

Storyline

Septuagenarian Don Anselmo Proharan, a retired government minister, finds himself sharing living space with his son, a penurious, bourgeoisie solicitor and his family. Don Anselmo, a widower, is restricted to one room of the house, and his social life has narrowed to attending wakes, funerals, and visiting the cemetery. When his paraplegic friend Don Lucas, gets a motorized wheelchair, Proharan accompanies him to his wife's grave to leave flowers. Don Anselmo soon becomes obsessed with getting his own "little coach" and joining the subculture of other "cochetito" owners. However, when his tight-fisted son refuses to buy a chair for him, the old man tries several gambits to get one.

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Plot Keywords:

minister | politician | wheelchair | old man | retirement | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish French

Release Date:

20 April 1961 (Italy)

Also Known As:

The Little Coach

Filming Locations:

Madrid, Spain

Company Credits

Production Co:

Films 59, Portabella Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Álvarez: [to Don Anselmo] Where 300 people eat, 301 eat as well.

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Connections

Featured in The Story of Film: An Odyssey: European New Wave (2011)

User Reviews

Marco Ferreri debuts for me

"El cochecito" ("The Little Coach" in English) is the first Marco Ferreri movie that I've ever seen. And it's certainly a good one. Ferreri was Italian, but this black comedy is Spanish-made, focusing on an elderly handicapped Madrilenian and his acquaintances. This is one of the only looks that I've had directly into Franco-era Spain (although little if anything focuses on Franco's rule). The protagonist feels ostracized by society, but has some surprises in store for everyone.

So, I don't know if I would call this a great movie. I got the feeling that the content, which did in fact have trouble with the censors, may have influenced Pedro Almodovar. But that's just conjecture, so don't quote me. Either way, a pretty good movie.