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A most interesting comedy drama film that may challenge your preconceptions about Spain. Fernando (Jorge Sanz) is a handsome but naive young man who has just deserted from the Spanish army in the early stages of the Republican Civil War in 1931. He finds shelter with a liberal and laid-back man, Manolo, who shares his political and religious views, and Manolo has four daughters. The film revolves around their successive attempts to seduce him or get married to him, and the whole thing is well done and very entertaining.
Early on, we hear that there is going to be a carnival ball. Fernando says he isn't going, but the girls take him to an attic where there are some old costumes and forcibly dress him as a French Maid, or possibly a Spanish Maid. Meanwhile one of the daughters, Violeta, (Ariadna Gil) who would really prefer to be a man, discovers Fernando's army uniform and decides that she will go to the ball wearing it.
So they get to the dance, with Violeta in Fernando's uniform, and him feeling a bit uncomfortable in the maid's outfit. Violeta is exhilarated.
Fernando hasn't entered into the spirit of things yet, and Violeta helps him to improve his makeup and look better.
Violeta feels increasingly confident, and Fernando's more feminine appearance encourages Violeta to feel amorous; and she kisses Fernando.
She takes him on to the dance floor and they dance a romantic dance, Violeta naturally taking the man's part. Two of Violeta's sisters are looking on, and they agree that they envy both of them.
Fernando suddenly gets uncomfortable with this public exposure, but Violeta is still highly charged and takes him to a hayloft, where they have sex, with her on top.
Although the whole film is more explicit than the location and period would suggest, I found it tasteful and most entertaining. Highly recommended.
The film is usually credited as being French, but it is released in the Spanish language; and an English language version has been released under the pedestrian title of The Age of Beauty.
HF June 2001
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