Belle Epoque

Amazon.com

This Spanish fluff from 1992 won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, but its significance goes about as far as you can throw a flower petal. The story finds an elderly artist (Fernando Fernán Gómez) giving shelter to a deserter (Jorge Sanz) from the royalist army in provincial Spain, 1931. While on the premises, the young man naturally notes the beauty of all four of his host's daughters. Each takes her turn at seducing him, but this isn't late-night cable TV so much as it is a series of brief character sketches filled out by the way each woman takes charge. It's a clever idea made more clever by the fact that these sundry beauties are acting on the libertine impulses to which their free-thinking father subscribes in principle but has sheepishly abandoned for love. But the film, directed by Fernando Trueba, is rendered so lightly it could almost be mistaken for calendar art. --Tom Keogh

Description

A Spanish soldier deserts from the army in 1931, only to find himself arrested by a group of local policemen. He is released and soon befriends a lonely, old man in the local village. Problems arise when the old man's daughters come to visit their father and the soldier quickly falls in love with each of them. Stars Penelope Cruz. 1994 Academy Award(r) winner for Best Foreign Language Film.

Customer Reviews:

Belle Epoque.......2007-07-29

I found this little movie hilarious. I really enjoyed it, especially the part when the mother arrives. Glad I saw it.

Belle Epoque.......2007-07-11

This infectious, ribald romantic tale has a simple, humorous set-up, but doesn't shy from tragedy or depicting the realities of life during wartime. Still, it's a mostly lighthearted romp, and Trueba orchestrates the farcical aspects deftly, creating bold, well-developed characters and coaxing fine performances from his lead actors, particularly Penelope Cruz, still waiting to be discovered by Hollywood (and Tom Cruise) in 1994. The erotic shenanigans get an extra twist when Manolo's wife Amalia, a touring cabaret star played by peppy Mary Carmen Ramirez, shows up with her new lover. Winner of an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, "Belle Epoque" is seductive, eccentric, and lively, like Spain herself.

Boring & Pretentious.......2007-02-17

I agree with the Amazon reviewer. This film has the feeling of many older, better European films, mostly French, but it doesn't match their quality. The DVD cover boasts "a rollicking sensual romp" and I can see the writer thinking "Oh this is going to be such a rollicking sensual romp..." The people are types, no one feels anything deeper than lust and sentimentality, and the story isn't remotely believable. Most objectionable, though, was the self-conscious "cuteness" to the point that I wanted the hero to be sent back to the seminary. I agree with another reviewer who wondered what anyone saw in him, other than his ability to cook. In the opening scene, the young deserter's pants fall down when he's found by the guards. This is supposed to be hilarious...and it goes downhill from there. It should have included a laugh track. I gave it three stars for the good acting, the beautiful setting and the interesting references to the political situation. If you don't want any more than that, or if you're easily duped into thinking that this is "art" then you may like this.

Funny as H***.......2006-11-08

It's right on. The scene transitions are nicely done. Even though a lot of this is predictable, it is still funny and makes one eager to see what's' next.

Fernando literally goes down the line of all the sisters, till he has a shot gun wedding with the last. The scene between the cuckold and the err... cuckolded cuckold is hilarious. The sisters are very vivid and pretty (well except that cruz girl).

Overall a very brilliantly done story.

if bill forsyth had been spanish ..........2006-08-03

jorge sanz (a looker) stars as a soldier deserting from the spanish army during the 1930s civil wars, taken into a family, who proceeds to fall in love with and seduce all four daughters, while forging a father/son relationship with the patriarch. touching and kinky and off beat, a worthy winner of the oscar as best foreign language film in 1992.

Average customer rating:

Belle Epoque
Belle Epoque
Boring & Pretentious
Funny as H***
if bill forsyth had been spanish ...

Belle Epoque
Starring: Penélope Cruz , Miriam Díaz Aroca , Gabino Diego , Fernando Fernán Gómez , and Michel Galabru
Director: Fernando Trueba
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: Video
Binding: VHS Tape

Galabru, Michel | ( G ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Gil, Ariadna | ( G ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Lampreave, Chus | ( L ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Sanz, Jorge | ( S ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Trueba, Fernando | ( T ) | Directors | VHS | Video

Comedia | Spanish Language | Formats | VHS | Video

Cine español | Spanish Language | Formats | VHS | Video

General | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: 6303283691
Release Date: 1998-06-02

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Belle Epoque.......2007-07-29

I found this little movie hilarious. I really enjoyed it, especially the part when the mother arrives. Glad I saw it.

Belle Epoque.......2007-07-11

Boring & Pretentious.......2007-02-17

Funny as H***.......2006-11-08

if bill forsyth had been spanish ..........2006-08-03

Average customer rating:

Belle Epoque
Belle Epoque
Boring & Pretentious
Funny as H***
if bill forsyth had been spanish ...

Galabru, Michel | ( G ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Gil, Ariadna | ( G ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Lampreave, Chus | ( L ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Sanz, Jorge | ( S ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

General | Art House & International | Genres | VHS | Video

Trueba, Fernando | ( T ) | Directors | VHS | Video

Comedia | Spanish Language | Formats | VHS | Video

Cine español | Spanish Language | Formats | VHS | Video

Deals Under $8 | Today's Deals in Video | Features | VHS | Video

General | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: 6303283713
Release Date: 1997-09-29

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Belle Epoque.......2007-07-29

I found this little movie hilarious. I really enjoyed it, especially the part when the mother arrives. Glad I saw it.

Belle Epoque.......2007-07-11

Boring & Pretentious.......2007-02-17

Funny as H***.......2006-11-08

if bill forsyth had been spanish ..........2006-08-03

Belle Epoque [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Spain ]

Average customer rating:

Belle Epoque [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Spain ]
Director: Fernando Trueba
Manufacturer: Manga Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000FMXVMW

Product Description

Spain released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada. LANGUAGES: Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0), English (Subtitles), French (Subtitles), German (Subtitles), Spanish (Subtitles), WIDESCREEN, SYNOPSIS: After striking responsive chord at the Berlin Film Festival, Fernando Trueba's Belle Epoque (aka Age of Beauty) went on to win 9 Spanish Goya awards and an Academy Award for "Best Foreign Film." Set in pre-Franco Spain, film stars Jorge Sanz as Fernando, a carefree, pacifistic army deserter. Wandering about the countryside, Fernando is welcomed into home of the wealthy Don Manolo (Fernando Fernan Gomez). Far from upset by the boy's AWOL status, Manolo is delighted because he shares Fernando's political philosophies. What follows is sheer heaven for the peaceloving lad, who sits smilingly on the sidelines as Manolo's four voluptuous daughters (Adrian Gil, Maribel Verdu, Miriam Diaz-Aroca, and Penelope Cruz) literally fight for his attentions.
SPECIAL FEATURES: Trailer(s), Storyboards, Scene Access, Photo Gallery, Making Of, Interactive Menu, Filmographies, Biographies,

DVD:

DVD

DVD