A Matador's Mistress (2008)

The film starts in the trip from Sevilla to Linares, where Manolete stops in Córdoba to see his mother. He will be remembering some passages of his life.

Director:

Menno Meyjes

Writer:

Menno Meyjes

Stars:

Adrien Brody, Penélope Cruz, Santiago Segura

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Adrien Brody	...	Manuel Rodríguez Sánchez "Manolete"
Penélope Cruz	...	Lupe Sino
Santiago Segura	...	Guillermo
Juan Echanove	...	Pepe Camará
Ann Mitchell	...	Doña Angustias
Josep Linuesa	...	Enrique de Ahumada
Nacho Aldeguer	...	Luis Miguel Dominguín
Pedro Casablanc	...	General
Enrique Arce	...	Apoderado de L.M. Dominguín
Tomás Pozzi	...	Dealer
Jorge Cabezas	...	Fascist
Xavier Martinez	...	Journalist in Dª Angustías House (as Xavier Martinez)
Berta de la Dehesa	...	Hermana de Manolete
Natalia Moreno	...	Hermana de Manolete
Pablo Calvo	...	Husband 1 (Cuñado de Manolete)

Storyline

"A Matador's Mistress" is a tragically eloquent dance of the cold brutality of uncommitted love and the high stakes of the Bullfight. Immerse yourself in the culture of Spain surrounding the age old traditions of the Matador. While the bullfight is controversial by today's standards, the ancient art-form is depicted with unflinching realism. The story is of man against beast, the bullfighter's zen, if you will; his nightly dance with death. A world-class lover enters his world; their code is their truth. Life being lived, edgy, relentlessly flirting with disaster, untamed, beautiful.

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Plot Keywords:

matador | spain | bullfighter | 1940s | bullring | 

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Taglines:

He defied death like a god... he succumbed to love as a man.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

3L Filmverleih [Germany] Quinta Distribution [France]

Country:

Spain UK France USA Germany

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

31 March 2010 (France)

Also Known As:

A Matador's Mistress

Filming Locations:

Carmona, Sevilla, Andalucía, Spain

Box Office

Budget:

$28,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Iberoamericana Films Producción, Future Films, Manolete Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min 115 min (European Film Market)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In Iberia in the era of this film it was common to display your wealth by having at least one prominent gold tooth - this is still usual in the African continent - and is for show, having nothing to do with a dental repair. Lupe Sino is depicted as enjoying the company of men, is frequently called a "whore" by Manolete's entourage (who disapprove of the relationship because they fear for their own status), and has a basket-crown on her upper left incisor - this is not the habit of a "respectable" woman in 1940s Spain. When she has it removed she shows Manolete by tapping her front tooth and saying "Look, respectable" and there is a huge close-up of her front teeth. Also, during the course of the film her wardrobe and hair-style become gradually less gaudy - her way of showing Manolete that she is willing to settle down and become a "respectable" woman he can marry.

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Goofs

The young challenger matador's hat is missing as the camera moves from long shot to the close-up. He was in mid swing of his cape with nowhere he could have placed the cap, no one near enough to hand it to, and it is not on the ground.

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Quotes

Dealer: And if he gets the clap?
Pepe Camará: He doesn't fuck, never has.
Dealer: That's why he fights like a god.

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Connections

References Captain Blood (1935)

User Reviews

Dull and tiring biography about Manolete relying heavily on the troublesome relationship with his sweetheart

Spanish/English co-production concerning about a brief biography of the known Torero Manolete (Adrien Brody) who rose to prominence shortly after the Spanish Civil War and is considered by some to be the greatest bullfighter of all time . The movie begins in the journey from Sevilla to Linares , and he remains in Córdoba to find his mother . There are , subsequently , various flashbacks remembering some passages of his life . As mainly focusing his relationship with a Fatal woman , Lupe Sino (Penélope Cruz) , a world-class lover who enters in his complicated world and with whom has an uncommitted romance . As Lupe Sino cannot be considered a "respectable" girl in 1940s Spain , though she she is willing to settle down and become a "respectable" woman he can marry . But Manolete's colleagues and best friends (Santiago Segura , Juan Echanove) disapprove of the relationship because they fear for their own status . And developing his Bullfighting skills , as his style was sober and serious , with few concessions to the gallery, and he excelled at the Suerte De Matar — the kill . Manolete's contribution to bullfighting included being able to stand very still while the bull passed close to his body and , rather than giving the passes separately, he was able to remain in one spot and link four or five consecutive passes together into a compact series . Manolete popularized a pass with the Muleta called the "Manoletina," which is normally given just before entering to kill with the sword . In addition to all of the major bullrings of Spain , he had very important triumphs in Plaza Mexico.

This "A Matador's Mistress" , also known as the title "The passion within" or ¨Blood and passion¨ in some countries deals with a love joined to the high stakes of the Bullfight ; it is the story of a winner bullfighter against a brave beast . And there are a lot of shots about bullfighting , especially in its final part , showing a spectacular Corrida , being technical consultants the notorious Toreros : Espartaco and Cayetano Martínez who has a brief cameo as Lupe's lover . It contains mediocre interpretations from a famous main cast : Adrien Brody and Penélope Cruz . And support cast is pretty good , such as Santiago Segura , Juan Echanove , Ann Mitchell , Enrique Arce , Pedro Casablanc , among others . The picture displays a colorful and evocative cinematography by Robert Yeoman . And a tragic , sensitive and sad music by Dan Jones and Gabriel Yared . The motion picture was middlingly directed by Menno Meyjes (Martian child , Het Diner , Max)

The movie gives a brief description about the culture of Spain surrounding the age old traditions of the Matador . As the ancient Toreo art-form is described with unflinching and fetching realism . As bullfighter Manolete , Adrien Brody , relentlessly flirting with death and along the way he has a turbulent love story with a woman of dark past . This was Lupe Sino , regularly played by Penélope Cruz with a basket-crown on her upper left incisor , who is depicted as enjoying the company of men, and frequently called a "prostitute" by Manolete's entourage . At the end Manolete died in August 1947 following a goring in the upper right leg as he killed the fifth bull of the day, the Miura bull Islero, an event that left Spain in a state of shock. Manolete received his fatal goring in the town of Linares where he appeared alongside the up-and-coming matador Luis Miguel Dominguín, who, after Manolete's death, proclaimed himself Number One . In response to Manolete's death , General Francisco Franco , then dictator of Spain , ordered three days of "national mourning" , during which only funeral dirges were heard on the radio .