Intense drama dealing with the consequences of Spanish war and a passionate love story . Some scenes between Sergi Mateu and Anna Galiena result to be embarrassing , both of them do not deliver the necessary chemical ; however , it contains evocative settings , being perfectly set in its period . Madrid, 1947 , after 4 years in the Spanish Sahara captain Javier Zaldivar (Sergi Mateu) returns Spain , Javier is son of an exiled Republican officer and he was in Russia battling in ¨Blue Division¨, where he won the Iron Cross . There Javier finds again Luisa (Anna Galiena) , the vidow of the Captain Estrada , and he will not hesitate to court her now that she is a widow , and subsequently attempts to marry her . Javier was an old friend of her husband , although always in love with her . So Luisa lets herself be loved . She, on the other hand, befriends suspect characters , and receives the visit of a hidden ¨Rojo¨ rebel , Juán Cifuentes (Chema Mazo) pursued by the Francoist authorities , and has relations a mature anarchist called Modéjar (German Cobos) . One day, Javier Zaldívar to be aware of the strange visits carried out by his sweetheart and then things go wrong .
An anti-military and anti-religious drama set in an isolated Spain during the years after Spanish Civil War and World War II , it packs an uneven script and weak filmmaking that spoiled the interesting story . Inspired by actual events and being an adaptation from the novel "Una historia madrileña", written by Pedro García Montalvo and originally published in 1988 . This one turns out to be another film upon Civil War and Francisco Franco period , usual themes in Spanish Film history . There is not chemical between the two protagonists , as both initiate a torrid and really loving relationship with no much sense, including strong love scenes . There is a mediocre description of main characters , as the jealous officer Zaldivar and Luisa as a temperamental woman of liberal ideals who lives her love life as she pleases the deep friendship . Sergi Mateu delivers a below average interpretation as an officer who has just returned to Madrid after spending some time in the Spanish Sahara . Anna Galiena gives an average acting as the attractive widow of Captain Estrada who refuses to live according to the social norms that repressed and subjected women . Decent support cast formed by prestigious secondaries as José Maria Escuer , Nacho Martínez , Manuel De Blas , Germán Cobos , Luis Ciges , Carmen Rossi . Acceptable production design by Rafael Palmero, showing appropriately the atmosphere of the forties . Evocative and atmospheric cinematography by Magi Toruelle . Enjoyable soundtrack titled Romanza from "Concertino en La menor" Composed by Salvador Bacarisse Performed by Narciso Yepes (guitar) and The Spanish Philharmonic Orchestra Conducted by Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos and Andante from "Homenaje a la seguidilla" Composed by Federico Moreno Torroba Performed by Narciso Yepes (guitar) and The Spanish Philharmonic Orchestra Conducted by Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos .
The motion picture was regularly directed by José Luis Cuerda . This filmmaker José Luis Cuerda is a veteran craftsman , being his film debut ¨Pares Y Nones¨ , a typical Madrid comedy . He subsequently directed ¨El Bosque Animado¨ that achieved enough success . He followed directing flops as ¨Viuda De Capitán Estrada¨, ¨Tocando Fondo¨ , ¨Los Girasoles Ciegos¨. His biggest hit was ¨Amanece Qué No es Poco¨ and its sequel ¨Así En El Cielo Cómo En La Tierra¨.
