El amor perjudica seriamente la salud

I saw this film as part of a series while I was going to school in Spain. Spanish films tend be, for the most part, confusing, unsatisfying, and obviously low-budget. _El amor perjudica seriamente la salud_ is none of these things. The performances are absolutely outstanding (with a very notable early Penelope Cruz role) and the story is at times screamingly hilarious. At others, it is devastatingly sad. It has the wonderful quality of seeming to be a cute little romantic comedy that actually evolves into a complex, finely tuned film that can easily become the topic of a night's conversation after the film. I've not yet seen it in English, but I'm doing all in my power to find it here in the United States. Truly, truly excellent.

Manuel Gómez-Pereira was on a roll, with movies that were each one more polished than the previous one and each one of them having a really good reception from both audiences and critics (the Javier Bardem starred "Boca a boca", now almost forgotten, was talked about everywhere and seen as a contemporary Madrid screwball classic), so he had all the budget and almost everything he wanted for his next movie, this one, in which he decided to talk about love.

A story of a non romantically engaged couple destined to jump into each other at different points of time, with two young actors (Gabino Diego, Penélope Cruz) who looked nothing like the same character elder ones (Juanjo Puigcorbé, Ana Belén) but with some impressive set pieces that also tell the recent history of Spain. It attempts to be several things at the same time: didactic about history and circumstances, and absurd, tragic, and funny about the romcom, and succeeds mostly. This is a common thing in the Gómez-Pereira later works: he never hits all the spots that he is trying to hit, but I admire him for trying so much.

Costumes, cast. The Bernardo Bonezzi soundtrack, all the technical details are incredible. It feels a bit disjointed but it is also very poignant, and the dance scene is one of my favourite movie scenes ever.

This started as something curious to watch, something light. Well that changed almost imperceptibly as I was drawn into the film and the story.

In a way it's a typical story line, yet not so typical as so few people have experienced what happens to the characters. The emotional levels really pull you up and down as the movie explores the idea of true love vs. lust and romance vs. marriage. Also exploring ideas about getting what you want in life materially and career and classes of society and how those intertwine with attraction and love.

The music was also very moving, making the emotions that much stronger. I'm a man and yet it made me laugh and cry ... making me think back to events in my own life.

Life can be so simple and pure if we want it to be .... but is that boring?

Usually, stories about lovers and mistress are drama en end in blood. Here, it's the opposite: it's funny and happy. The idea is original and is well played as the separated lovers meet all along their life in Spain. So it's a good way to learn about the evolution of this country and its people, especially with their King. But there's more as the first look comes from the Beatles! It's Pené who plays the young lady and she is cute in this old fashion. With the years, the mature woman is played by Ana Belen, who has the same sexy look than a very famous Justice Minister of my country (RD). Thus, it's 100% Latin charm and not at all superficial: their story really speaks about why people can have two loves: as i write for "Douche froide", the reason is the difference. So it's not really about a competition of lovers, of choosing the best as they are unlike and opposite. In a way, they can be in good terms together, the bad side is that the unofficial lover is stuck to bits and leftover: he can't never access the best level because if he did, there's no more difference thus no more desire. So it's funny and tragic to see those lovers meet, dream and leave as it's their fate. In addition, it's never repetitive as there's a lot of humor, due to the facts that they must do little lies, silly plans for their official families.

Again a good surprise from my neighbors !

A good film. The cast is perfect and Gabino Diego is the best of the film. It is very amusing and enjoyable. You'll laugh willingly. You must see it because you'll have a good time and it is worthwhile. It only have a little defect, the duration is very long, I think.