KM.0 (2000)

En una calurosa tarde de verano, catorce personas que necesitan un cambio en sus vidas se encuentran en el centro de Madrid, el Kilómetro Cero. La vida de la gente puede cambiar de forma radical por un encuentro fortuito. Algunos acaban con la persona que esperaban, pero la mayoría se encuentra con la persona equivocada, terminando sin embargo más felices que al principio. Encuentran un nuevo kilómetro cero para sus vidas.

At 6pm one hot summer, fourteen persons who need a change in their lives are in the center of Madrid, the Kilometer Zero. Each one of them made an appointment to meet someone they have not met yet except for one couple. Obviously there were mistakes but turned a lot better than what they expected for... from zero to a new kilometer in their lives.

KM. 0 is one of the best sensible comedies I have watched and that I suggest you fasten your seatbelts whilst watching as you might fall down from your seats. Maybe I have exaggerated so much but it is really a very good watch! Good actors playing great characters. I personally like the stories of the student aspiring to become a director and his encounter with the prostitute; and the flamenco dancer finding his soul-mate by chance.

(In SPANISH with ENGLISH subtitles)

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Carícies (1998)

La ciudad, inquieta, de noche. Asistimos a una ronda (discontinua) de once historias de personajes con diferentes relaciones: parejas, madre-hija, compañeros, hermanos, jóvenes-viejos, padre-hijo, amantes, padre-hija, madre-hijo..., que no consiguen acariciarse (comunicarse, amarse). Época actual, final de milenio. Situaciones desnudas donde el ser humano hace aflorar sus emociones más intensas y también sus más bajos instintos. Desamor, pero también amor. Muchas posibles formas de amor. Pese a la cercanía, las personas pueden ser del todo desconocidas. Hablan sin escuchar, escuchan sin oir y actuan sin mirar. Pero también puede haber una chispa de esperanza, de comunicación, unas caricias.

The city, restless, at night. A chain of eleven stories complete a circle, linked by characters with different relationships: couples, mother-daughter, friends, brother-sisters, young-old people, father-son, lovers, father-daughter, mother-son, who cannot manage to communicate through love, to caress. It is set in the present, at the end of this millennium. These are naked moments in which human beings show their most intense emotions, as well as their basic instincts, love/hate, but also love in its many forms. Despite proximity, people can be total strangers. They can talk without listening, listen without feeling and act without thinking. But there can also be a spark of hope, of communication, a few caresses.

Story 1: A young man no longer wants to live with her girlfriend as he believes that the sweetness of their relationship has gone bitter...

Story 2: The girlfriends goes out to meet her mother on the latter's request...

Story 3: Then the mother meets her lesbian lover in a café and reminisces the good ole days...

Story 4: After dinner at around 21:30, the lesbian lover finally locates her homeless brother after ten years and tries to ask forgiveness for having an affair with his ex-wife in the past whilst he is collecting food from the garbage for his dinner...

Story 5: The old man goes to his sleeping territory and a young teenage boy wakes him up and asks him for money but ends up stealing his wedding ring...

Story 6: The young boy then runs home and plays his thing whilst enjoying a soak in the bath tub when suddenly his father enters. The boy asks his father to join him and compares his to his father's...

Story 7: Earlier that day at the train station, the father tries to break up his relationship with his other woman by insulting her...

Story 8: That other woman visits his father and ends up arguing with him...

Story 9: After the heated argument, the father goes to his other home where he maintains a young handsome hustler. He speaks about his youth and how his daughter not know about his being a homosexual.

Story 10: Goes back to an earlier time which should be simultaneously happening with Story 1 - The young hustler visits his mother and dines with her whilst he tries hard to let her know what he is and what he does...

Story 11: As the mother watches her son go, she heard someone knocking at the door and when she opens, the young man in Story 1 is asking her to spare him some olive oil...

CARÍCIES titled CARESSES in English is a pleasant watch. To activate video streaming, click on hyperlinked story numbers...

(In SPANISH & CATALAN with ENGLISH subtitles)

Novo (2002)

Graham es incapaz de recordar los acontecimientos durante más de diez minutos; sufre de lo que se llama una MCP: memoria a corto plazo. Irène se enamora de Graham y ella se propone acordarse de todo por los dos. Graham tarda en recuperar la memoria, y los que le quisieron ayer ya no pueden esperar. Y ella, que le quiere hoy, también sufre por no poder entenderle mejor. Si es cierto que enamorarse es, ante todo, construir una historia de amor, ¿Cómo podría Grahan enamorarse de Irène si para él cada día es el primer día y cada vez la primera vez?

Graham (Eduardo Noriega) is unable to remember events for more than ten minutes suffering from PTA - post-traumatic amnesia. Irène falls in love with him and she intends to do all possible so that Graham remembers everything that they do together. Meanwhile, Graham's recovery is taking long and those that loved him in his yesterday cannot wait anymore whilst she who loves him today also suffers for not being able to understand him better. If love is built with history, how can Graham possibly fall in love with Irène when his every day is a new day and every time is the first time?

NOVO is a delightful comedy with a feeling of soft porn which basically represents the innocence of the lead character particularly when he reunites with his son at a deserted beach. Above all it shows how powerful love is...

(In SPANISH with ENGLISH subtitles)

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L'Auberge Espagnole (2002)

Xavier (Romain Duris), un jeune homme de vingt-cinq ans, part à Barcelone pour terminer ses études en économie et apprendre l'espagnol. Cette langue est nécessaire pour occuper un poste, que lui promet un ami de son père, au ministère des finances. Mais pour ce faire, il doit quitter sa petite amie Martine, avec qui il vit depuis quatre ans. En Espagne, Xavier cherche un logement et trouve finalement un appartement dans le centre de Barcelone qu'il compte partager avec sept autres personnes. Chacun de ses co-locataires est originaire d'un pays différent.

25-year old Xavier (Romain Duris) leaves for Barcelona to finish his studies in Economics and learn Spanish. The language is prerequisite to fill a post that was promised to him by the Minister of Finance who happens to be a friend of his father. But to do so, he must leave his girlfriend Martine whom he has lived with for four years. In Spain, Xavier seeks accommodation and finally found an apartment in central Barcelona which he shares with seven other people -- all originating from different countries in Europe.

L'AUBERGE ESPAGNOLE which literally translates to THE SPANISH INN in English and titled EURO PUDDING internationally, is funny, unique, authentic, interesting, witty and absolutely exceptional. It clearly showed the life of an outsider amongst other outsiders in a foreign land. Indeed, a very enjoyable film!

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Los Novios Búlgaros (2003)

A sus cuarenta años, Daniel es un homosexual de buena familia que disfruta de una desahogada posición social. En sus ratos libres frecuenta el barrio gay de Madrid con sus habituales amigos, a veces a la caza de chicos guapos, últimamente todos extranjeros y especialmente eslavos. Conoce a Kyril, un búlgaro atractivo de 23 años, del que queda perdidamente enamorado. El perfecto compañero para un imprescindible viaje interior, un encuentro con sus verdaderas necesidades, un alter ego desarraigado y aventurero que además le llevará al borde de perder su seguro y aburguesado status social...

Daniel (Fernando Guillén Cuervo) is a gay man at 40 coming from a family of good social reputation. At leisure, he loves to go out to the city with his gay friends particularly to places where they could hunt for cute foreign boys especially the hunky Slavs. He meets 23-year old Kyril (Ditran Biba), a stunner from Bulgaria that he fells in love with as madly as he provided good company, sexual contentment and made him feel down-to-earth...

LOS NOVIOS BÚLGAROS (BULGARIAN LOVERS internationally) is one funny film that is so exaggerated to excite you from beginning to end. It's not made to offend the Bulgarians or any minority that seek refuge and better life in Spain or in any other country so when you watch it, don't you dare being a human rights activist.

(In SPANISH with ENGLISH subtitles)

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Chuecatown (2007)

Leo y Rey son una pareja de gays que viven en Chueca. Son un tanto atípicos, no tienen gusto para la moda, les gusta el fútbol, no tienen un duro y están pasando por una crisis de pareja, pero dentro de lo que cabe, viven felices. Al mismo tiempo, en el barrio se están produciendo extraños crímenes de ancianas. El asesino, Víctor, es el dueño de una inmobiliaria cuya máxima aspiración es convertir Chueca en un barrio modelo donde todos sus habitantes sean jóvenes, modernos y guapos viviendo en casas de lujo reformadas. Para ello se dedica a asesinar a todas aquellas ancianas que no quieren venderle el piso. Víctor mata a la vecina de Leo y Rey que, sin que ellos lo supieran, había testado en favor de la pareja dejándoles el piso. Rey le regala el piso a Antonia, su madre, una mujer mayor, fumadora, desvergonzada, contestona, que odia a Leo a muerte. Víctor, al ver que el piso ha sido ocupado por una nueva anciana se dedicará a partir de ese momento a intentar deshacerse de la nueva inquilina. Pero Antonia es un hueso duro de roer. Víctor, en su afán de conseguir el piso y de cargarse a la vieja, algo que ya se ha convertido para él en algo personal, se acercará poco a poco a Leo, seduciéndolo y engañándolo, haciendo que su ya maltrecha relación con Rey empeore aún más.

Leo (Pepón Nieto) and Rey (Carlos Fuentes) are a gay couple that lives in Chueca. They are very ordinary people with no fashion sense, like football, and though they have some relationship crisis, they still manage to live happily. Meanwhile, a kind of weird crime is taking place in Chueca committed by Victor (Pablo Puyol), a real estate owner whose main aspiration is to turn the neighbourhood to a new place intended for the young generation with good looks. Modern luxury houses will be built and in order for him to accomplish his mission, he murders all those elder ladies that do not give up their units. Next he kills the neighbour of Leo & Rey but unknown to Victor, the couple will have the legal claim of the unit if ever their old neighbour is gone, therefore, Rey gave the unit to his mother Antonia (Concha Velasco) who is a shameless, provoking smoker that hates Leo to death. When Victor notices that the unit has been occupied immediately, he works his way to get rid of the new tenant but Antonia is not that easy to give up. When Victor learns that Antonia is Rey's mother, Victor tries to get into Leo and seduce him to make sure that his relationship with Rey gets down the drain.

CHUECATOWN (titled BOYSTOWN in English) is a wickedly funny dark comedy from Spain. Great actors that will surely make you laugh and as usual, charming performances from Carlos Fuentes and Pablo Puyol. At last, Carlos has finally portrayed a gay role though this is actually his third appearance on a gay-themed film. And I almost didn't notice him because he is bald with a very muscular physique.

(In SPANISH with ENGLISH subtitles)

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20 Centímetros (2005)

Marieta (Mónica Cervera) quiere dejar de llamarse Adolfo. Llamarse como su padre y tener los mismos veinte centímetros que él, le produce repelús. Marieta quiere llamarse Marieta y ser una mujer respetada y con todas las de la ley. Sufre de narcolepsia y se queda dormida en el momento menos oportuno. Pero en sus ataques de sueño, que dan origen a los números musicales, Marieta canta maravillosamente y habla idiomas. Marieta es toda una mujer. Él está enamorado de Raúl (Pablo Puyol) que adora su cuerpo sobre todo... que él quiere quitado.

Marieta (Mónica Cervera) does not want to be addressed as Adolfo. To be called in the same way as his father and to have twenty centimeters just like his makes the creeps out of him. He prefers to be called Marieta and be treated and respected as a woman. He suffers from narcolepsy and instantly falls asleep in the least opportune moment. But during his attacks he immediately dreams of elaborate musical extravaganza... that he is the star and sings magnificently in different languages. And she really feels like a total woman. He falls in love with Raúl (Pablo Puyol) who adores his body, most especially... that part of her she wants removed.

20 CENTÍMETROS is another fantabulous offer from Spain. Its very imaginative story staged with outlandish musical performances by the actors themselves is incredibly fun-tastic. An entertainment film that I highly recommend to everyone... straight or not straight... gay or not gay!

(In SPANISH with ENGLISH subtitles)

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7 Vírgenes (2005)

Verano en un barrio obrero y marginal de una ciudad del sur. Tano (Juan José Ballesta), un adolescente que cumple condena en un centro de reforma, recibe un permiso especial de 48 horas para asistir a la boda de su hermano Santacana. Durante el tiempo que dura el permiso, Tano se reencuentra con su mejor amigo, Richi (Jesús Carroza), y se lanza a vivir esas horas con el firme propósito de divertirse, de hacer todo lo que le estaba prohibido en el centro: se emborracha, se droga, roba, ama y, fundamentalmente vuelve a la vida. Se siente libre y ejerce esa libertad con toda la fuerza y el atrevimiento de la adolescencia. Pero, a medida que transcurre su estancia fuera del centro, Tano también asiste al desmoronamiento de todos sus referentes: el barrio, la familia, el amor, la amistad, todo ha cambiado. Más allá de un permiso de 48 horas, la libertad de Tano se convierte en un viaje impuesto hacia la madurez.

It’s summer in a southern working-class skid row. Tano (Juan José Ballesta), a youngster doing time in a reform centre, receives a special 48-hour pass to attend his brother Santacana's wedding. Right after reaching home, Tano runs back into his best friend, Richi (Jesús Carroza), throwing himself into having as much fun as he can in such a short time -- doing everything he is forbidden to do at the centre: he gets drunk, takes drugs, steals, loves, and basically resuscitates. He feels free and uses his freedom with full force -- the daring of adolescence. But the longer he spends outside of the centre, the more Tano's references tumble around him: the neighbourhood, the family, love, friendship, everything has changed. More than a 48-hour leave, Tano's freedom becomes an imposed voyage towards maturity.

7 VÍRGINES (7 VIRGINS) is a well-directed film with brilliant actors particularly the phenomenal acting of the two leads, Ballesta & Carroza. The story about teenagers is written so realistically that it would give you a clear and deep insight on some individuals you might probably have encountered in your lives. I have read some reviews from some mature audience saying this and that... all I could say is the fact that "reality really bites hard."

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Amic/Amat (1998)

Un hombre maduro y enfermo, profesor de literatura medieval, ha hecho recuento de su vida y ha decidido, entre dudas, qué es lo que le interesa dejar a los demás cuando haya desaparecido. Una herencia en forma de ensayo que ha insertado en la memoria de su ordenador personal. Al mejor y más antiguo de sus amigos le repugna una herencia que pueda estar contaminada por el miedo a la muerte. El mejor y más reciente de sus alumnos se niega a aceptar ser el heredero; pretende así preservar una oscura y ambigua libertad. Ese mejor y más antiguo de sus amigos está casado y tiene una hija. Un hombre casi feliz, con las cosas claras, a quien su mujer quiere tanto y tanto y tanto... Lástima que la hija, en cambio, viene a contarles determinado pequeño problema. ¿Pero es ella quien realmente tiene problemas? Los cinco personajes, en una carrera casi contra reloj, se debaten, luchan y se agreden, todos contra todos, al tiempo que descubren mútuamente la raíz de sus afectos, de sus pasiones, y reconsideran casi traumáticamente su futuro. Un futuro completamente incomprensible pero del que, según para quien, depende la salvación...

A mature and dying medieval literature professor Jaume Clarà (Josep Maria Pou) has gone over his personal life and has decided, amongst his doubts, what he wants to leave an inheritance in a form of an essay once he passes away which he has saved on his personal computer. His best friend Pere Roure (Mario Gas) is bothered that it could be tainted by the fear of death. His best student David Vila (David Selvas) does not want to be an heir as he wants to keep his dark and ambiguous freedom. On the other hand, Pere is a very happy man as long as things go well and he is so loved by his wife Fanny (Rosa Sardà). One day, their daughter Alba (Irene Montalà) paid them a visit to inform them of a slight problem. But is she the one who really has problems? The five characters, in an almost race against the clock, argue, struggle and hurt each other, everyone against everyone, whilst at the same time they discover mutually the roots of their affection, their passion, and almost traumatically reconsider their future -- a completely incomprehensible future, but on which, depending upon who, depends salvation...

AMIC/AMAT is about relationships and true friendships. In every battle there are victors but who are the losers in the end? This is another masterpiece from Spain with stellar performances by its actors. Another must-see!

(In SPANISH with ENGLISH subtitles)

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Historias del Kronen (1995)

Carlos (Juan Diego Botto) es un joven estudiante que apenas ha cumplido los 21 años. Seco cuando quiere, simpático cuando le da la gana, le encanta provocar y transgredir. Al atardecer, como cada día, Carlos sale de su casa para reunirse con sus amigos en el Kronen, el bar que frecuentan. Es verano, Carlos está de vacaciones. Vive de noche. Cualquier situación puede llevarse un poco más lejos. Ningún límite es admitido, ninguna barrera aceptada. Y cada vez más, una aventura se encadena con otra como si se tratara de una noche continuada. En medio, la oscura voluntad de vivir cada instante como si fuera el último. Sin embargo, algo de lo que ocurre sitúa a Carlos y a su cuadrilla frente a una realidad que han intentado ignorar hasta ese momento.

21-year old Carlos (Juan Diego Botto) is a young student who is nice or annoying as he likes, enjoys provoking and transgressing. In the night he goes to Kronen where he meets his friends in the bars. Every situation can be taken a little farther. There are no limits, no accepted barriers. And more each time, each adventure is chained to the next, as if it were a continuous night. And, amongst that, the obscure will of living every minute as if it were the last one. Nevertheless, something happens that will put Carlos and his friends against a reality they have been trying to ignore until the last moment.

HISTORIAS DEL KRONEN is classified as fiction but amazingly all the incidents in this film from Spain had occurred in reality especially in my own real world. It's a film that I could really relate to and I know that there are quite a number of people out there who would be feeling exactly the same.

(In SPANISH only)

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Song for a Raggy Boy (2003)

A teacher takes on the corrupt leadership of an Irish reform school in this drama based on a true story. William Franklin (Aidan Quinn) is a teacher who was born in Ireland and moved to the United States only to repatriate in 1939 after his leftist political views cause him to lose his job. Franklin becomes the first non-cleric instructor at St. Jude's, a school for wayward boys run by Father Damian (Alan Devlin), and assisted by Brother John (Iain Glen) who is a firm believer in strong discipline. But Franklin comes to believe the students are being treated with excessive force, with many of the children severely punished for trivial violations of the rules, and some treated as delinquents for the crime of not having parents. As Franklin campaigns for more humane treatment of his charges, he makes a powerful enemy in Brother John, who responds to Franklin's reform efforts with greater vehemence against the students, in particular Liam Mercier 636 (John Travers), an inquisitive child who has become a favorite of Franklin. Franklin's distrust of Brother John's regime reaches a high point when he learns that Patrick Delaney 743 (Chris Newman) was sexually assaulted by Brother Mac (Marc Warren), one of the clerics.

An award-winning and highly-acclaimed joint project from UK, Spain, Denmark & Ireland, SONG FOR A RAGGY BOY will surely make you feel bad even if you have a heart of stone. This carefully directed and brilliantly acted film clearly showed the cruelty of the past when "human rights" was still inexistent. I'll easily give it a perfect 10 although it broke my heart into pieces.

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