Belle epoque (1992)

Director:

Fernando Trueba

Writers:

Rafael Azcona (screenplay)
Rafael Azcona (story)

Release Date:

25 February 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Plot:

In 1931, a young soldier (Fernando) deserts from the army and falls into a country farm, where he is...

Plot Keywords:

Country House | Women | Ensemble Film | Masked Ball | Cross Dressing

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 24 wins & 13 nominations

Cast

Penélope Cruz	...	Luz
Miriam Díaz Aroca	...	Clara (as Miriam Díaz-Aroca)
Gabino Diego	...	Juanito
Fernando Fernán Gómez	...	Manolo
Michel Galabru	...	Danglard
Ariadna Gil	...	Violeta
Agustín González	...	Don Luis
Chus Lampreave	...	Doña Asun
Mary Carmen Ramírez	...	Amalia
Jorge Sanz	...	Fernando
Maribel Verdú	...	Rocío
Juan José Otegui	...	El cabo
Jesús Bonilla	...	Soldier (El número)
María Galiana	...	La Polonia
Joan Potau	...	Paco (as Juan Potau)

Also Known As:

Belle époque (France)
The Age of Beauty

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

France | Spain | Portugal

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | Argentina:13 | Canada:18A | Chile:14 | Finland:K-14 | Peru:14 | South Korea:18 | UK:15 | USA:R | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Arruda dos vinhos, Lisbon, Portugal

Company:

Animatógrafo

Trivia:

When accepting his Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, director (Fernando Trueba) said: "I would like to believe in God in order to thank him for this prize, but I only believe in (Billy Wilder), so... Thank you, Mr. Wilder!". Wilder himself reportedly phoned Trueba a few days later for acknowledgment and told him: "Hello Fernando, I'm God".

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Amalia sings "En un pais de fábula" from Pablo Sorozábal's zarzuela "La tabernera del puerto". The situation of the movie is in early 1930s, whereas this zarzuela was first staged in 1936.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Silla de Fernando, La (2006)

International Cinema Rules!!!

I have recently become a fan of international films. I have seen a few films from France and Germany. In the past weeks, I have seen films from Spain and Mexico. So far, my favorite actresses from outside the USA have been Franka Potente and Penelope Cruz. I think both will end up with awesome careers in their respective lifetimes.

Speaking of Penelope Cruz, she has amassed an awarding career in the Spanish mainstream. One of her early roles was in a little films called "Belle epoque" as the youngest of four daughters in a rather eccentric clan controlled by a laid back, republican father. A rather young army deserter encounters this eccentric family and he ends in a rather complex but humorous set of events. Eventually, he gets into bed with all four of them and hilarity ensues. It was laughing most of the way through it. Overall, this is a great film worthy of it's praise. I give it a 9 out of 10!

In reality, this is more of a male fantasy than anything else even though it is set against the backdrop of life before the Spanish Civil War. I think it explains why the deserter sleeps with four beautiful women. Anyway, here ends my rant!