Gaudi Afternoon (2001)

Alone in a foreign city, Cassandra must solve a family's darkest, deepest secrets before she can confront her own past.

Director:

Susan Seidelman

Writers:

Barbara Wilson (based on the novel by), James Myhre (screenplay by)

Stars:

Judy Davis, Marcia Gay Harden, Lili Taylor

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Judy Davis	...	Cassandra
Marcia Gay Harden	...	Frankie
Lili Taylor	...	Ben
Juliette Lewis	...	April
Courtney Jines	...	Delilah
María Barranco	...	Carmen (as Maria Barranco)
Christopher Bowen	...	Hamilton
Pep Molina	...	Paco
Víctor Álvaro	...	Juan (as Victor Alvaro)
Steve Itkin	...	Harry (voice)
Sergi Ruiz	...	Carmen's Older Son
Glòria Casas	...	Carmen's Daughter (as Gloria Casas)
Aitor Extravizz	...	Carmen's Son
Glòria Roig	...	Carmen's Mother (as Gloria Roig)
Alexandra Tugues	...	La Grande (as Alejandra Tugues)

Storyline

Cassandra, a solitary writer in Barcelona (a US ex-pat) gets a call for help from a stranger - a stylish woman named Frankie - who wants Cassandra to find her husband, so he can sign some important papers. Nothing Frankie says is true: the husband turns out to be a woman, the issue isn't legal papers but a child's custody, and even Frankie's most obvious identity, in red cape and red pumps, is a false front. But Cassandra keeps at it, at first to earn her promised fee, and then to help Frankie, then Frankie's ex, then the child. Along the way, this solitary and somewhat disconnected and bewildered writer frees herself to finish a novel and re-establish a broken relationship.

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Plot Keywords:

lesbian | title directed by female | talking on telephone | cigarette smoking | strong female character | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Mystery

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and sexual content

Did You Know?

Trivia

Features the spectacular architecture of Antoni Gaudi.

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Quotes

Hamilton: [about his date] You know I never would have guessed it.
Cassandra Reilly: Guessed what?
Hamilton: That she was a transexual
[Cassandra chokes on her drink]
Hamilton: Not that I'm judgemental mind you, people are all different - I'm bisexual for instance.
[She chokes again]
Hamilton: Oh I'm sorry, being Irish you must not be used to talking about bisexuals, let alone transvestities.

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Connections

References A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

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Soundtracks

Bésame mucho
Written by Consuelo Velázquez

User Reviews

charming, funny

I was surprised to see how much some people here disliked this movie. It's a nice little comedy with good performances, an engaging storyline and a nice pace. I notice a lot of the criticisms are from people who have a very definite idea of how such a movie should be made. Many are comparing it favorably or unfavorably with Almodovar's films, none of which I've seen, and some with the book, which I haven't read. Taken on its own, it's excellent, and Judy Davis is, as always, terrific (I feel in the same way critics want this movie to be a different movie, they want Davis to be a different character - one complained her hair was always a mess, which was sort of the point - but Davis is perfect for the character that the movie is portraying, even if she's not perfect for that movie some people feel should have been made instead).

It's also nice to enjoy something by Seidelman. She started so great and then got so awful that I gave up on her years ago and haven't even seen anything she's done in years except for one or two TV series episodes, but while this is no Smithereens (I don't think she's capable of ever doing that again) it's nearly as good as Desperately Seeking Susan. Perhaps success destroys Seidelman, and she can only make good movies when she's obscure.

Details

Country:

Spain

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 May 2002 (Spain)

Also Known As:

Gaudi Afternoon

Filming Locations:

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,838, 23 March 2003

Gross USA:

$5,858

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$65,115

Company Credits

Production Co:

Antena 3 Televisión, Lolafilms, Vía Digital

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min 93 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1