Tapas (2005)

The small, everyday stories of a group of neighbours who live in a suburb of Barcelona, and the little secrets that they hide.

Directors:

José Corbacho, Juan Cruz

Writers:

José Corbacho, Juan Cruz

Stars:

Ángel de Andrés López, María Galiana, Elvira Mínguez

9 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ángel de Andrés López	...	Lolo
María Galiana	...	Conchi
Elvira Mínguez	...	Raquel
Rubén Ochandiano	...	César
Alberto de Mendoza	...	Mariano
Darío Paso	...	Opo
Alberto Jo Lee	...	Mao
Amparo Moreno	...	Rosalía
Blanca Apilánez	...	Carmen
Anna Barrachina	...	Águeda
Pilar Arcas	...	Luz
Ma-Anne Valmeo	...	Joven China
Antonio Willy Calderón	...	Médico
Luis Elías Gómez	...	Cura
Javier Merino Sánchez	...	Pescadero (as Javier Merino Sanchez)

Storyline

The small, everyday stories of a group of neighbours who live in a suburb of Barcelona, and the little secrets that they hide.

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Plot Keywords:

female nudity | topless female nudity | sex scene | food in title | older woman younger man relationship | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Offical site [Spain] Official site

Country:

Spain Argentina Mexico

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

13 May 2005 (Spain)

Also Known As:

Tapas Bar

Filming Locations:

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$4,455,640

Company Credits

Production Co:

Castelao Producciones, El Terrat, Filmax

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Most of the film locations are around the Santa Eulalia neighborhood in the city of Hospitalet de Llobregat, which is the neighborhood where director José Corbacho grow up.

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Goofs

In the last scenes, Mao shows a tattoo on his chest and talks about it with almost religious fervor, so he has the tattoo from some time ago. However, Mao was previously seen naked to the waist (while he was training) and he had no tattoo on his chest.

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Connections

References Casa de los babys (2003)

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Soundtracks

Sol y Coppertone
Written by José Rey, Peter Koo and Juan Cruz
Performed by Estéreo

User Reviews

Tapas, various stories from Barcelona

This pleasant collage by first-time directors José Corbacho and Juan Cruz is made up of three loosely interwoven stories of various people in a Barcelona neighbourhood, with a tapas bar as the central location, where most characters' lives intertwine. The title not only refers to those small appetizers Spain is famous for, but also to the Spanish verb "tapar" which means to cover up, or to hide.

I found the story of Lolo, the bar owner, the most engaging. His wife abandoned him, he is full of prejudice against women and foreigners, cannot show his emotions and has developed a deeply rooted incapability of engaging in any meaningful relationships. He needs a new chef and ends up with Mao, a Chinese immigrant who's kungfu-ing all the time but is the most efficient cook he ever had and suddenly people are flocking to his bar because his dishes are actually really good now. Some of the insights springing from this story are a bit contrived. Lolo who's learning that not all Chinese are communists or illiterate paupers seems like 40 years too late to me, but somehow the actors and the low-key filming make even obnoxious Lolo seem sympathetic and near the end of the film, I really rooted for this man.

Rubén Ochandiano gives an exceptional performance as Ruben, a teen supermarket worker who engages in a sexual relationship with middle-aged shop owner Raquel (Elvira Menquez). A very talented young actor, a natural screen presence. I hope it ensues in more prominent roles in the foreseeable future.

It's all low-key and unpretentious, with sober direction and cinematography, but surprisingly effective. Many of its characters could easily have befallen victim to stereotypes but the cast does an amazing job to give this a real breath of fresh air. Hard to resist.

Camera Obscura --- 8/10