Torremolinos 73 (2003)

70% of critics liked it
(40 reviews)
66% of users liked it
(1,653 ratings)

The sexual revolution meets a bumbling door-to-door salesman and his beautician wife in the form of "educational" sex films in this satiric comedy, set in Spain in 1973. Alfredo Lopez (Javier Cámara) is an encyclopedia salesman whose work has not been going especially well lately, which is worrisome… More The sexual revolution meets a bumbling door-to-door salesman and his beautician wife in the form of "educational" sex films in this satiric comedy, set in Spain in 1973. Alfredo Lopez (Javier Cámara) is an encyclopedia salesman whose work has not been going especially well lately, which is worrisome to his wife, Carmen (Candela Peña), who is eager to have a baby. As it happens, encyclopedia sales have been dismal overall, and publisher Don Carlos (Juan Diego) strikes upon an idea for a more lucrative product line -- an "audiovisual encyclopedia of human reproduction," consisting of 8 mm movies demonstrating different ways for couples to make love. Don Carlos sets up a meeting between his sales staff and Dennis (Thomas Bo Larsen), a pornographer from Denmark who likes to tell people he once worked with Ingmar Bergman. While most of the salesmen refuse to have anything to do with Don Carlos' new scheme -- especially since pornography is strictly illegal under the Franco regime -- Alfredo grudgingly goes along, and despite initial misgivings Carmen is drafted to star in the first film in the series. As the films become an underground success in Spain and earn a more high-profile reputation in Denmark, Carmen is recognized in public as a glamorous porn star, and Alfredo deludes himself into believing he and Dennis are making art films. But Alfredo's ambitions get the better of him when he begins writing a screenplay for a serious feature film and Carmen becomes increasingly obsessed with having a child. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 33 min.
Directed By: Pablo Berger
Written By: Pablo Berger
Genres: Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Apr 15, 2005 Limited
On DVD: Feb 21, 2006
Studio: First Run Features

Critic Reviews

Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News
Torremolinos isn't perfect, but it stands as an amusing entry into the world of art-house cinema.
Michael Booth, Denver Post
As a first feature-length effort for Berger, Torremolinos 73 shows promise of a director with a humane touch, with or without the extra skin.
Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune
The narrative eventually runs out of steam. But writer-director Pablo Berger maintains a lighthearted tone.
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post
It works, but just barely (no pun intended, considering all the nudity).
Pablo Izmirlian, Washington Post
A small, honest comedy about passion, movies and love, so human that it leaves a bittersweet aftertaste that may soften the laughter and provoke some reflection.
Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle
Torremolinos 73 goes overboard with the movie within a movie gag.
Kam Williams, Upstage Magazine
A bawdy sitcom which careens back and forth between the ridiculous and the sublime.
Lewis Beale, Film Journal International
The film ranges from wacky and hilarious to downright romantic, yet Berger manages to shift tone smoothly and expertly. He's aided by top performances from his leads.
Kam Williams, BlackFilm.com
A bawdy sitcom which careens back and forth between the ridiculous and the sublime.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...decidedly hit-and-miss affair.
Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine
If you think Pedro Almodóvar is too deep, this kiddie-pool Spanish dud is for you.
Eric D. Snider, EricDSnider.com
The humor is mostly low-key, with writer/director Pablo Berger doing little to draw attention to his film's highly unusual premise.
Luke Y. Thompson, New Times
An amiable, if not exactly novel, Spanish farce
Matthew Turner, ViewLondon
Deserves to be seen by as wide an audience as possible
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul), St. Paul Pioneer Press
Far too much of Torremolinos is devoted to Alfredo's dream project, a dingy, black-and-white, Ingmar Bergman-influenced movie in which a woman waltzes with Death.

Read all 15 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Walter M

[font=Century Gothic][color=indigo]"Torremolinos 73" starts out with an unsuccessful encylopedia salesman making the rounds in 1973 Spain.(Well, if somebody showed up on my doorstep with a bust of Francisco Franco, I would slam the door in his face, too.) The company he… More
[font=Century Gothic][color=indigo]"Torremolinos 73" starts out with an unsuccessful encylopedia salesman making the rounds in 1973 Spain.(Well, if somebody showed up on my doorstep with a bust of Francisco Franco, I would slam the door in his face, too.) The company he works for has decided there is more money in making educational sex films for a Scandinavian company. Well, what is a soon-to-be-homeless married couple supposed to do? Oh, and his wife desperately wants to have a baby...[/color][/font] [font=Century Gothic][color=#4b0082]"Torremolinos 73" is an amusing satire of sexual and social attitudes and filmmaking. There are very good and convincing performances from the two leads.[/color][/font]