Product Details

• Actors: Antonio Dechent, Verónica Sánchez, Isabel Ordaz, Aitor Merino, Jordi Vilches
• Directors: Chus Gutiérrez
• Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: Spanish
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: TLA
• DVD Release Date: May 8, 2007
• Run Time: 89 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000NA278U
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #157,117 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Charmingly retro musical comedy! --Steve Warren, Q Notes

Product Description

Sara, still a virgin, stumbles her way to the underground nightclub El Calentito, owned by a sassy transsexual. The venue plays host to some of the hottest up-and-coming musical groups including Las Sioux, an all-girl rock band fronted by Joan Jett look-a-like Carmen, who happens to be a lesbian, and Leo, who is always in some state of undress so her breasts can run free. In the politically conservative climate of the Franco regime, the club has become a safe haven for all forms of sexual expression: gay, bisexual and try-anything sexual. Sara gets invited to perform with Las Sioux and, on the night of her scheduled debut, February 23, 1981, an uprising occurs causing the government to collapse and a thrilling night of wild, uninhibited celebrations explodes, leaving the country of Spain in a tizzy.

Set during the birth of the La Movida movement in Spain from which directors like Almodóvar and music groups like Fangoria found artistic inspiration, El Calentito is a raucous, high energy comedy that is out, loud and in your face. An effervescent roller coaster ride that will definitely be nostalgic for some and influence a new generation of queers to take to the stage and kick butt.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Under all of that makeup is a sweet coming of age story, February 9, 2010

By 

Mike S. (Long Island) - See all my reviews

This review is from: El Calentito (DVD)

Based on the blurbs on the DVD cover and reviews I've read here and elsewhere, I was expecting a gonzo film with all sorts of craziness going on. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised that underneath all of the punk rock makeup and supposed debauchery was a sweet coming of age story. And while this seems to be a small independent film, the production qualities are high.

The actress who played Sara (Veronica Sanchez) is great. And beautiful. Also, we get to see more of her (if you know what I mean) than we do of Leo, who supposedly lets certain body parts run free (they do, but in only one scene). Also great is the actress who played Antonia, Nuria Gonzalez.

It seems like this film was marketed to the gay community, but its appeal is universal. Every kid has to make decisions as to whether or not to obey Mommy & Daddy or to go out and fend for themselves in the world. If that world happens to be in a music group in a punk rock club on the eve of a possible coup, while not being too sure about the sexual orientation of yourself or your friends, then it just makes everything a lot more interesting!!

I was unfamiliar with the attempted coup in Spain on Feb 23, 1981 (stock footage of which is shown in the movie), but coming after only 5 years of new found Democracy, it left Spain on an uncertain brink. This gave the movie more weight than most light-hearted coming of age movies, which are usually based on what to do after Prom and/or Graduation. This movie is based on what to do after the government and your way of life may be completely destroyed!?!? But don't let the politics scare you away from this film as the coup is simply another character in this tale.

The music is fun. Nothing great, but it has a good early 80's New Wave vibe. In the film they say it's a combination of Blondie and Nina Hagen. I'd add in the B-52's as there's a fun and campiness to each tune.

There is nudity and drug use, but nothing gratuitous. This is a soft 'R' film. I don't want folks to confuse my "sweet" comment to mean innocent!?!? Innocent it ain't. I feel that it's suitable for 16 year High School students & above.

As for the disk itself - there are not much extras on the disk, only the trailer and about 10 stills in a photo gallery. I watched this in Spanish with English subtitles. I don't know what other subtitles are available.

I had more fun watching this than many big Hollywood productions.

3.0 out of 5 stars not the best dvd copy, December 20, 2011

By 

joey francisco - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: El Calentito (DVD)

movie aside, the dvd hardly has any special features. the picture quality isn't very good too. i'm not aware of any other copy of the dvd though.