Customer Reviews

Belle Epoque [VHS]

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I disagree with the Amazon editorial. Yes, this is a funny, sexy movie; maybe a young man's dream come true. It also has a lot of real commentary on Spanish society at the time; right before the Spanish Civil War. The characters end the movie thinking all is well in the world and don't know the Civil War is right around the corner. I am sure this aspect is lost on most American audiences, but it is a very real part of the film and juxtaposes the light, sexy, comic aspects of this movie. The scene where the priest hangs himself in the church right before the young couple get married is very symbolic of how the church felt at this time of liberalization and the backlash that led to the Civil War (1930s). See the movie! It is one of my all-time favorites.

Belle Epoque is a beautifully rendered film with a good sense of humor and a well-paced plot. Unlike what a previous reviewer wrote, it is actually set in the years PRECEDING the Spanish Civil War, that is, when a republic was established after the abdication of Alfonso XIII in 1931. The debate between Monarchism and Carlism versus Republicanism and Anarchism -a split in Spanish society that would culminate in the outbreak of the Civil War in 1936- is made accessible as expressed by the colorful characters in this movie: the pampered mollycoddle Juanito, the irreverent priest, the artist-patriarch (who nevertheless lives like a "scared old bourgeois"). The Civil War of the 1936-39 was only the last of the many civil wars that erupted in Spain during the modern era (e.g. the Carlist Wars of the Nineteenth Century). The movie will throw light on this turbulent time as it affected ordinary people, and for those of you not squeamish about the idea of a man sleeping with four beautiful women in the course of a few days, I recommend this movie highly. "Belle Epoque" is NOT fluff or late-night soft porn; it is only disguising its gravity behind a façade of lightheartedness.

The story line for this film is not anything extraordinary but the actors/actresses weave a wonder web of mayhem and love that pervades through the simple story line to make this a timeless classic. It is also interesting how Trueba uses role reversal to turn the tables on poor Fernando and throws him into a matriarchal setting where the men AREN'T the ones wearing the pants in the family....quite literally in one sense. Overall a great movie that I have seen time and again...Great Castillan spanish accents as well!

This is one of the finest movies I've ever seen. It is funny, unique, and truly entertaining. Not just for fans of Spanish movies and culture, it will be enjoyed by all who watch it! Add it to your collection, you won't be disappointed (but make sure you avoid the dubbed version).

This film is a sly comment of politics in Spain. It was made just after Juan Carlos freed the country from Franco's fascism. On the surface in may seem plotless, but each young lady is representative of a type of governmet, Fernado is the people of Spain, and Manolo the spirit of progress. Much better if you speak Spanish, but delightful for the Anglophone interested in European politics. A real intellectual treat, not for light viewing.

Although this is a Spanish production set during the Spanish Civil War in the thirties, it is a French bedroom farce all the way, and a delightful romp to be sure. Warm and rustic with a light satirical air, "Belle Époque" plays like something from Molière with a touch of Cervantes and a dollop of Shakespeare folded in. Four young women, daughters of Manolo, an ageing Republican artist, played with warmth and a becoming rakishness by Fernando Fernán Gómez, converge one at a time on our very lucky hero (Jorge Sanz) so as to better help him decide which one he really loves. Director Fernando Trueba lets him try all four before a decision is reached. The sex scenes couldn't get by the Vatican, but are so charmingly done that we are delighted. None of your sick, violent Anglo matings here. No rapes, no drugs, no booze, just sweet country coupling all around.

The target of the satire is mostly the Catholic church and the Fascists, but the Republicans take some hits as well. The war is entirely in the background except for a little comédie noire scene at the outset where two stupido Fascists soldiers do themselves in. Our hero's foil is a Jerry Lewis sort of mamma's boy romancing one of the daughters with his inheritance and his mother. He flip-flops between the church and the Republicans trying to please mamma and Clara, his enchantress, second daughter of Manolo. Manolo's foil is the parish priest, a hypocritical libertine, who commits most of the deadly sins before expiring by his own hand when the Republicans win (temporarily) the war.

The title (in English, "The Age of Beauty") is ironic because of the war, but literal as it refers to the time of our youth. Is it not uplifting to recall our loves instead of our wars, to turn our political and religious hatreds into benign satirical jokes, and to see the beauty of our nature and not our bestiality?

The traditional comedy of course ends in marriage, but to whom? I'm betting on the beautiful Penélope Cruz, who was just eighteen when this film was released.

One of my favourite films - funny and touching at the same time. This film gives an insight into the Spanish psyche, surreal and macho, yet manages to laugh about itself. The protagonists are beautiful and convincing. I chuckled all the way through, and would strongly recommend to see the subtitled version, as the dubbed version loses a lot of the feel of the film - one does not need to speak Spanish to appreciate the language.

I loved this movie! It was funny, beautiful, and had great characters and sparkling dialouge. Jorge Sanz is gorgeous and all girls are funny and well drawn. Beautifully filmed, sentiments not laid on with a trowel, thank God!! Sexy, but not gross. Ending not VERY surprising, but a couple of good twists. Excellent acting by all, several hilarious elements. A few slow parts, but all in all, a great movie. Actually, I only wish I could give it four and a half stars instead.

Belle Epoque reminds of a traditional French-style cinema, just like the title itself.

It is a story of basically decent, but very confused young man (incredibly cute one, too), whose only concern is how to survive amidst the chaos of Spanish Civil War.

The film begins with this young man, Fernando, almost being killed, but it ends with him being very much alive and happy. In the process, Fernando meets a lot of new people: an old man, Manolo, and his unconventional family, to say the least. The relationship between Manolo and Fernando takes a special place in the story, along with Fernando's amorous interest in Manolo's daughter(s).

Apart from love and youth, Belle Epoque is also looking at Spain's historical background and hypocritical nature of society during the Great Spanish Civil War.

Overall, Belle Epoque is both visually appealing and very philosophical, at the same time. It is a real masterpiece.

drama, mischief and a lucky man who walks in to a situation that some would say, "I was just there at the right time and right place" this adventure of is so incredibly cute funny and sexy,especially to those who have had something similar happen to them. When I was a young man in my teens I had this type of romance silly girls especially growing up in these Hispanic countries women seem to be more open. This movie was great for those that love romance and teenage love. The way the romance is brought on is quite subtle with flirting at every corner and picking up on vibes and attitudes, lol. I laugh cause one scene a girl is totally flirting and the guy goes for it so she plays hard to get and tells him to stay away, but then she pulls him back in and then pushes him away, lol! it is hilarious, because that's the most beautiful playful way romance is, women don't want to let themselves go, but at the same time they want a man to take them there, I wont spoil it for you all, but I do recommend it. It's in Spanish so if you don't speak it, you may lose a little of the meaning I know something is lost in translation when I watch French films, so I have made it my effort to learn French. I think If every man went through what this young lad went through then all men would be happy. I totally recommend it and pay attention to the body movement and the language of gestures and eyes, lol!