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"Sex and Lucia" is the type of film that Hollywood will
rarely attempt to even make. This being an adult film which
is intelligent and creative, and which has several scenes of
graphic sex and natural nudity which are used to enhance the story
and not to just titillate the audience. This may be the best
film I've seen since "Last Tango In Paris" which
combines drama with sex in a complicated story with complicated
characters.
The plot is so complicated (but with everything resolved and
learned by the end of the movie) that it will be hard to give it
justice with a narrative description. But I'll give it a try
nonetheless. We are first introduced to Lucia who is a
waitress in Madrid. After being fascinated with a writer
named Lorenzo and one of his novels, she finally gets the nerve to
introduce herself to him and says that they should live together
so that he will fall in love with her since she is already in love
with him. Romance ensues with these young lovers being in
love, while she is unaware that Lorezo had secrets and personal
demons which haunts him each day. One day, after getting a
phone call from the police and believing that Lorenzo has been
killed, Lucia leaves Madrid and goes away to an island to be by
herself and where she believes that she can find out the secrets
to Lorenzo's life. After arriving on the island and renting
a room on the beach, Lucia slowly begins to find out things while
meeting other people who may or may not be connected to Lorenzo.
This film has the familiar feel of an European film where the
story slowly unfolds and where secrets and hidden agendas of
characters are revealed. The cinematography of this movie is
nothing less than superb. Not only are the gorgeous beach
scenes of Spain magnificent to watch, but the color and texture of
the film changes as the story unfolds and certain events or
characters are shown. Most of the characters lead desperate
and unfilled lives and we the audience are hooked in to find out
what will become of these people and the romance that may or may
not be fulfilled. While the film is not about sex, sex seems
to play an integral role in the actions that these people take and
the decisions that they make. Some of the sex scenes are
fairly graphic but they are natural in the film, not just there
for shock value. It may be that the "sex" in the
title is really represented by the island itself which seems to be
the catalyst for everything that happens.
The acting by all the performers is great and even more important,
real. You believe that all the actions and decisions made by
these people could happen under the circumstances they find
themselves in. But I have to single out Paz Vega who plays
Lucia. She is the most striking and gorgeous actress that I
have seen in a long time and she demonstrates a wide range of
acting and emotion in this one film alone. She has such
screen presence, that every moment that she is on the screen you
cannot take your eyes off of her. I predict that she will
have a great acting future ahead of her and I can't wait to see
her in another film.
I
love to see a film which totally surprises me on how unexpectedly
good I find it to be. And "Sex and Lucia" was such
a film. It wouldn't surprise me to see Hollywood remake this
one with a watered down version which isn't even close to being as
good as the original. For those who like European films with
interesting characters and a weaving storyline, you will find this
film to be a gem.
-- Mike
( 4 out of 4 pops )
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