Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
José Isbert | ... | Don Anselmo Proharán | |
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Pedro Porcel | ... | Carlos Proharán |
José Luis López Vázquez | ... | Alvarito | |
María Luisa Ponte | ... | Matilde Proharán | |
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Lepe | ... | Don Lucas (as Jose A. Lepe) |
Ángel Álvarez | ... | Álvarez | |
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Antonio Gavilán | ... | Don Hilario |
María Isbert | ... | Andrea (as Maruja Isbert) | |
Chus Lampreave | ... | Yolanda Proharán (as Maria Jesus Lampreave) | |
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Carmen Santonja | ... | Julita (as Mari Carmen Santonja) |
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Eusebio Moreno | ||
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Tiburcio Cámara | ... | Eusebio (as Tiburcio Cámara Heredia) |
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José Luis Heredia | ... | (as Heredia) |
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Anteno | ||
Antonio Jiménez Escribano | ... | Vicente |
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. Written by duke1029@aol.com
"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.