Tiempos de azúcar

I've almost never seen a film so strong in its character as "Tiempos de Azúcar". This is a love story unlike any other about two people growing up together with entirely different passions and an unexplainable attraction for one another. The story would not be very interesting in itself if it wasn't for the excellence of the actors and the direction, a combination that reached for our hearts in the movie theatre in a way that brought out tears of passion. At the same time of being a romantic drama the picture gives the audience a fascinating lesson in 20th century Spanish history, as it stretches out during about 40 years from the death of Franco to the celluar phone culture of modern Western society. In the beginning of the film we see the two characters as they were, the two 10-year-old Spanish villagers grow up together. The boy without a father, trying to support his mother by working hard in the family bakery that he loves and his best and only friend, the little girl next door who's always trying to divert his attention from work to common pleasure. The young boy's, and eventually man's, dedication to his job in the bakery is explained by his needs for a safe and stabile world, stronger after the death of his mother. At the same time his childhood friend fights the dictator regime, takes a scolarship and enjoys a rich social life thanks to her indoubtable charm and beautiful appearence. Although she makes several attempts to create something other than mere friendship between them he won't let it go that far, even though many of his his old friends repetedly urge the young, kind workaholic to marry. After a few years, when his female soulmate finds someone else to share her life with, he realises that time has grown regretably short... The movie continues with the development of the little fishing village to the tourism capital of the Spanish westcoast, Benidorm, and portraits the male main character's whole life from birth to the eventual, dramatic, death. As a romantic drama it's a very good portrait of two people in a cultural environment that can seem very fascinatingly exotic for a child of the Western movie society. Still, it isn't very inventive and the movie is of course a lot worse than the book itself. To really get entangled with it the way I have takes some interest in Mediterranian culture and Spanish history. But anyway, due to excellent performances and art value this is a movie that really represents a beginning of a breakthrough in European regional film.

This is a story filled with happy moments and is as sweet as the almond cake that Miguel makes for every celebration. Birthdays, Saints Days, weddings and the Annual Queen festival...none of them would be complete without Miguel's almond cake, based on a secret family recipe. Everybody loves Miguel especially Angela who lives next door.

Not everyone can express their love in words. Miguel is one of those. He admits he expresses his feelings through his hands always busy creating delicious mouth-watering delicacies in the family kitchen. If ever there was a passionate man, it is Muguel, a passion for pleasing others through his non-stop devotion to his work.

If you enjoyed "Babette's Feast", you will also enjoy this film. As Miguel decorates his assortment of cakes with icing and almonds and blobs of vanilla cream you can almost smell that wonderful perfume that pervades the kitchen when the oven doors are opened. Angela says Miguel smells like all his creations. He smells of fresh bread and vanilla and sweet almond meal.

Miguel's shyness (well-portrayed in this film) makes it impossible for him to make advances towards Angela, but he does summon up enough courage to create a large almond cake with the words "I love you" on top. He puts it in the fridge for the right moment. Bur Fate can play nasty tricks!

Free-spirited Angela frustrated by Miguel's non-committal nature marries a lawyer whom she meets at the University Law School and they move to Madrid but her thoughts are always with Miguel whom she leaves behind in the little Spanish village.

What I like about this film is the message of sincerity and love and tenderness that each of the characters portray. Even in moments of disappointment there is no hatred or spite or vengeance. The director has shown great skill in creating this pervading mood of kindness and thoughtfulness towards others. One feels that the emotions are genuine.

This is a film to be seen and savoured like one of Miguel's little delicacies created with love and devotion to his art.

Simple as well as enjoyable film about infancy , youthful , and maturity including a sensitive romance , comedy , drama , emotion , along with colorful cinematography and wonderful songs at the time . Light romantic movie title ¨Sugar Times¨ deals with Miguel is a kid that loves her neighbour Ángela and enjoy working in the pastry-cook's shop of his family. Grown-up Miguel (Carlos Fuentes) becomes a successful baker and along the way he don't tell Ángela (Maria Adanez) his feelings, and she starts studying Law degree. Meanwhile , Miguel bakes and sells bread, cakes, or pastry , continuing working at his bakery . A bit later on , Ángela marries with another man , a lawyer (Roberto Enriquez) , and has two children with him , but she goes on her friendship with Miguel. Then things go wrong , as she will not be happy with her hubby and will go back to the little town .

Romantic dramedy (drama and comedy) is loaded with an enjoyable love story , agreeable situations , funny events , and with a distinctly Spanish sense of humor . It relies heavily on the maudlin romance between Angela/Maria Adanez and Miguel/Carlos Fuentes , who finally falls deeply in love for her . 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 . This Tiempos de Azucar pays tribute to the Sixties and Seventies ages , including films as ¨Donde Vas Alfonso XII¨ , ¨Rum Runners or Bulevar del Ron¨ and famous TV programs as ¨1, 2, 3 Responda otra Vez¨ . It is a typical Spanish romantic comedy from 2001 with the usual ingredients such as pleasing romance , brief drama , humor topped with a little bit of original elements here and there and improbable incidents . Although is full of predictability and cliché-ness the film results out to be pretty entertaining . It turns out to be pleasantly fun that offers no intellectual stimulus whatsoever ; an exercise in pure amusement in which sensibility , entertainment and fun are guaranteed . The screenplay manages a lot of emotion from the audience and romantic elements that you never loose your attention from the film about an attractive couple through the years , and they will ultimately show their true feelings. Appealing amd likeable performances from Carlos Fuentes as a hard-working baker , he's an accomplished actor and his presence is always welcome and here is perfect as successful , good-natured , intelligent , and brilliant young . In addition , Maria Adanez is unforgettable as free , impulsive and joyful female . She parades sexily at her best and more relaxed and enticing than ever . Carlos and Maria are cute together , and the chemistry and attractivenes were agreeable between them . The character Miguel well performed by Carlos Fuentes seems very passionate towards her . This comedy/romance /drama film is mildly amusing , with that said though, I found it worthy to watch just for the pleasure of seeing the starring couple. The hit of the show is undoubtedly for the fetching Maria Adanez who gives the best fun screen acting . I liked everyone in the excellent cast, and the male and female actors , especially Maria Adanez and Nuria Prims , were all very enticing . Support cast is frankly well such as Charo López , Verónica Forqué, Roberto Álvarez , Núria Prims, Elisa Matilla , among others .

It displays colorful photography in juicy atmosphere by Porfirio Enriquez . Catching musical score by Luis Ivars with marvellous songs at the time . The motion picture was professionally directed by Jose Luis Iborra, though has some flaws and gaps . Iborra manages to keep things moving around at a good pace . Iborra usually writes his films and occasionally for other directors as "What Makes Women Laugh?" , "Love Can Seriously Damage Your Health" , ¨Todos los hombres sois iguales¨ , ¨¿Por qué lo llaman amor cuando quieren decir sexo?¨ , ¨El robobo de la Joya¨ and ordinary collaborator to Joaquin Ostirell and Manuel Gómez Pereira . Iborra has also worked on film and television as a camera , editor and director assistant . But he is usually TV filmmaker , shooting or writing episodes of notorious series . Iborra is an expert on comedies as ¨Amor de hombre¨ , ¨Km.0¨ , ¨Valentín¨, ¨Tiempos de azúcar¨ and directing TV Series as ¨La que se avecina¨, ¨Stamos okupa2¨ , ¨Manolo and Benito¨, ¨A tortas con la vida¨ , among others . Rating : 6/10 . Acceptable and passable , though extremely sentimental .