Pablo MIralles (Pablo Carbonell) is a thirty-something misfit, lazy, misogynist, brothel lover and well-known online philosopher. He finds himself immersed in a plot full of alcoholic joys, high-class dinners, disastrous dalliances and web pages of dubious content in his attempt to clarify the sudden disappearance of his brother (José Coronado). Then the events will acquire dreamlike qualities and will end up leading to the "Fortaleza", an invisible citadel in the heart of the new Barcelona of wonders. Urged by his hateful sister-in-law Gloria (Marta Belaustegui), Pablo begins the search for his brother, which leads to dire consequences. What seems, at first, to be the typical skirt mess between boss and secretary now appears to be a possible kidnapping. Together with his ex-girlfriend (Nathalie Seseña), determined to help him, he discovers a secret philosophical society, related to a luxury brothel inspired by the Divine Comedy.
One of the three members of the theater group ¨El Tricicle¨, Paco Mir, who already directed the silent film ¨Palace¨, makes his solo film debut with this adaptation of Pablo Tusset's bestseller. In addition to achieving acceptable performances and an adequate integration of the supporting cast, Mir has incorporated a wide range of visual gags into the intrigue plot, the result of his theatrical heritage and mimic. The result is a comedy that is broadly nourished by the picaresque tradition and little by little grows with the frenetic pace of contemporary life. The main role is played by Pablo Carbonell (El Furgón, Pieza maestra), sympathetically playing a misfit, misogynistic, foul-mouthed, bankrupt thirty-something and well-known philosopher/web hacker who finds himself involved in solving a mystery in Barcelona when his brother disappears. Suddenly, and meanwhile he takes us aboard his luxurious James Bond-style sports car in order to give us a ride. The film is full of silly intrigue sprinkled with alcoholic investigations, nudism, twisted events, a website with dubious content and venereal adventures. But what began as a mysterious disappearance will acquire dreamlike qualities and will take Pablo to La Fortaleza, an invisible fortification in the new Barcelona of wonders.
Pablo Carbonell is well accompanied by a great cast, such as: José Coronado (La Vida Mancha, Caja 507), as well as Nathalie Seseña (Atomica, Canícola), Marta Belaustegui (Gitano, Marta y alrededores), Irene Montalá (Nubes de verano, Amigo/amado), Pep Ferrer (Sé quien eres, Los renglones torcidos de Dios, Merlí). Adding cameos from de Andreu Buenafuente and his wife Silvia Abril. It displays an appropriate cinematography by Kiko de la Rica (Lucía y el sexo, La comunidad, Malnazidos, Mediterraneo), considered to be one of the best Spanish cameramen. Equally, it packs a lively and attractive music with special collaboration from Pepín Te, Gran Wyoming, and Santiago Segura. Rating: 5/10.
