Golden Balls (1993)

A construction worker uses his charm and bravado in an attempt to attain enough finances to build his dream project.

Director:

Bigas Luna

Writers:

Cuca Canals, Bigas Luna

Stars:

Javier Bardem, Maria de Medeiros, Maribel Verdú

4 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Javier Bardem	...	Benito González
Maria de Medeiros	...	Marta (La mujer, 45 kilos)
Maribel Verdú	...	Claudia (La amante, 52 kilos)
Elisa Tovati	...	Rita (El primer amor, 47 kilos)
Raquel Bianca	...	Ana (La comehombres, ? kilos)
Alessandro Gassmann	...	El amigo de Melilla (as Alessandro Gassman)
Benicio Del Toro	...	El amigo de Miami (as Benisio Del Toro)
Francesco Maria Dominedò	...	El Mosca (as Francesco Mª Dominedo)
Albert Vidal	...	El suegro
Ángel de Andrés López	...	Gil - el de los garbanzos
Alicia Moro	...	La chica de Gil
Enric Cusí	...	El hombre de confianza
Francisco Casares	...	El productor (as Paco Casares)
María Martín	...	La mujer del productor
Thomas Lusht	...	El cachas americano

Storyline

Benito González works construction in Melilla and dreams big - of building the tallest building in Benidorm, a great phallic symbol of power, González Towers. Over several years, we see Benito's rise and fall, much like the construction of his tower. Through force of personality, he puts the financing together, taking advantage of women who love him - Claudia, a model who wants to be a star, and Marta, the US educated daughter of a banker whose loan Benito needs. Can his force of personality - his huevos de oro - compensate for shoddy building materials, no permits, and undercapitalization? Nature may have her own power and surprises in store for Benito.

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Plot Keywords:

cunnilingus | copulation | coitus | female full frontal nudity | sex scene | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Did You Know?

Trivia

In mid-1993 the Huevos de Oro shooting team arrived in Benidorm, the Gran Hotel Bali had been built for three years. On the half-built roof of the second highest hotel in Europe, became the ideal backdrop to tell the story of Benito González (extraordinary Javier Bardem).

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Connections

Referenced in Two Girls and a Guy (1997)

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Soundtracks

Achilipú
Written by José Castellón (as J. Castellón) and Felipe Campuzano (as F. Campuzano)
(C) Ediciones Musicales Horus, S.A.
(C) 1970 Teddy Sound

User Reviews

Typical Bigas Luna movie filled with strange happenings , twisted events , erotic scenes and surrealist images

Benito González (Javier Bardem) carries out his military service and works construction in Melilla ; he then falls in love with a beautiful Morrocco girl named Rita (Elisa Tovati) . Benito dreams to build huge constructions and big buildings . Later on , he arrives in Benidorm , where he attempts to build the tallest building called González Towers. Over several years, we see Benito to execute his wishes , but lack money no permits to carry out the construction of his tower . Through force of personality, his "Golden Balls" he puts the financing together , taking advantage of girls who love him such as Claudia (Maribel Verdu) , a fashion who tries to be a star, and Marta (Maria De Medeiros) , the US educated daughter of a wealthy man whose loan Benito needs . After that , he goes to Florida where he meets new lovers (Raquel Bianca) and disgraces .

This stirring as well as erotic story is a passionate retelling and an ironical drama about rise and fall ; full of visual images and tragedy , but including strong sex scenes with loads of nudism as female as male . Second part of Bigas Luna's "Iberian Trilogy" also including Jamón, Jamón and La Teta Y La Luna . This is a moving tale about ambition , luxury , desire in which a mean young attempts to build the great phallic symbol of power , at whatever cost ; as undercapitalization , debts , shoddy building materials don't avoid to follow his impossible dream . This Spanish picture is an enjoyable tale with a thought-provoking characterizing about a few characters , tragic drama and colorful outdoors . It is an overblown tragic drama , being screen-written by the same filmmaker along with his usual screen-writer Cuca Canals . Director Bigas Luna also writes the script filmed in his usual formal and stylistic scholarship , without leaving a trace the brooding issues , in terms of dramatic and narrative excitement . The storyline relies heavily on the continued ambition of the starring , including a lot of sexual scenes , almost softcore , but it doesn't make boring , however the film is entertaining . In spite of , the movie results to be acceptable and compellingly realized . Bigas carries out a perfect imaginary , a willingness almost perfect of the elements of each shot , every sequence, every space . Good acting by trio protagonist , all of them give fine performances , such as Javier Bardem as an ambitious but unfortunate young ; a beautiful Maribel as sex-crazed Claudia , and Maria De Medeiros is marvelous and charming with her sweet and enjoyable countenance . Sensitive as well as evocative musical score by Nicola Piovani who won Academy Award for ¨Life is beautiful¨. Furthermore , a colorful and evocative cinematography by Jose Luis Alcaine who was first cinematographer to use fluorescent tube as "key" lightning and deemed to be one of the best Spanish cameraman . Alcaine frequently works with Pedro Almodóvar , Bigas Luna and Vicente Aranda , as he has photographed ¨The skin I live in¨ , The bad education¨ , ¨Volver¨ , ¨Women in the verge of a nervous breakdown¨, among others . Here he shows splendidly the impressive landscapes from Benidorm , surroundings, and Miami .

The motion picture was professionally directed by Bigas Luna , following his particular style , plenty of sex , food references and Salvador Dali homages including some surrealist dream sequences . Bigas Luna was born on March 19, 1946 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain as Josep Joan Bigas Luna . He was a Bon Vivant who along with his wife, produced wine, ham, and organic products ; they are well shown in his films . He was a writer and director, known for ¨Jamón, Jamón¨ (1992), ¨Huevos de Oro¨ or ¨Golden eggs¨ (1993) "The Chambermaid on the Titanic" , ¨Angustia¨ or ¨Anguish¨ (1987) , ¨The tit and the moon¨ , ¨Volaverunt¨ , ¨Yo soy La Juani¨, ¨Di , Di Hollywwod¨ among others . He's also an expert on murky atmosphere such as proved in ¨Caniche¨ , ¨Tatuaje¨, ¨Bilbao¨ , ¨Anguish¨ and ¨Reborn¨. Luna discovered actors Ariadna Gil, Leonor Watling , Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz . He sadly died recently on April 6, 2013 in Tarragona, Catalonia . This film ¨Golden Eggs¨ is stylishly photographed and smartly designed and here Bigas Luna delivers his ordinary and erotic goods with nice sense of style . The picture will appeal to Javier Bardem , Maribel Verdu fans and Bigas Luna buffs.

Details

Country:

Spain Italy France

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

18 February 1994 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Golden Balls

Filming Locations:

Villajoyosa, Alicante, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain

Box Office

Budget:

ESP420,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Antena 3 Televisión, Filmauro, Hugo Films S.A.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1