Two students (Jordi Molla , Ernesto Alterio) are arrested for painting revolutionary graffiti on the university wall , being condemned hard eight-year prison sentences . They flee from the camp in Valle de Caidos and escape with two American girls (Allyson Smith , Hedy Burress) , posing as rich young men who are showing Spain to two tourists . Meanwhile , they are pursued by a Franquist high-command (Juan Echanove) and his chauffeur (Alex Angulo) .
This pursuit comedy contains lots of humor , entertainment and amusement . This is a slightly funny film with entertaining events , giggles , emotion and a love story . The film moves in fits and starts most of which would be desirable, with more traps the viewer resists any kind, and some moments of enjoyment and others quite a few embarrassing . The flick gives a short description about lives of people in the post-Spanish Civil War . This is a typical Spanish comedy from the 90s with the usual ingredients such as enjoyable humor , social habits , relationships among people and , of course , dealing with Spanish Civil War or Franco period , a familiar theme about a fratricide war and its consequences , impossible to forget to our cinema . The roles in this film are all lovable despite being rather pathetic and silly . The main issue about the continuous meetings and ongoing squabbles between the escapees and the pursuers is so repetitive and that makes it a bit boring and the most part results to be rich in absurdities and implausibilities . The picture attempts to spread optimism about the events of life , friendship and love , with its amusing sides but also including some risks . The film explores the relationship between Spanish and Anglo Saxon youth, including language problems , a topic also treated by the director in other films such as ¨Linea Del Cielo¨ , ¨Efecto Mariposa¨ and ¨Al Sur Granada¨ . Sympathetic performances from protagonist quartet who provide a considerable boost to the result , such as Jordi Mollà as Tomás , Ernesto Alterio as Jaime , Hedy Burress as Kathy , and Allison Smith as Susan . Agreeable support cast gives good acting as Juan Echanove as Víctor Marquina , Josep Maria Pou as Roa , Samuel Le Bihan as Michel , Álex Angulo as Máximo and Pepón Nieto as Velasco . A well acted, so so crafted, movie that should be considered as a return in form to the typical Spanish comedy of yesteryear . The picture achieved Goya prizes for Best New Actor , Ernesto Alterio , and Best Screenplay Adapted , Fernando Colomo .
Atmospheric and appropriate musical score by the notorious Juan Bardem , a magnificent composer and deemed to be one of the best Spanish musicians . Evocative as well as colorful cinematography by Nestor Calvo . The motion picture was professionally written and directed Fernando Colomo . Fernando Colomo was born in Madrid and is a talented and versatile writer/director who has made a vast array of often solid and entertaining films in all kind of genres as comedy, drama and one science fiction movie (1985 El caballero del Dragón) in a career that spans over 30 years . Especially known for directing comedies such as 1987 La Vida Alegre , 1988 Miss Caribe , 1989 Bajarse al Moro , 1993 Rosa Rosae , 1994 Alegre Ma Non Troppo , 1995 Efecto Mariposa . And in the 2000s directed Al Sur Granada (2003) , El Próximo Oriente (2006), Rivales (2008) and La Banda Picasso (2012) .
