Alex de la Iglesia is one of the most daring Spanish directors working today. Right from the start we must confess we don't particularly care for his style in his previous films. With the exception of "La Ciudadela" and this savagely funny comedy, "Ferpect Crime", the others don't measure up to the quality of these two. The director must be forgiven for the excesses of the past. In a way, this film shows a lot of control, something his previous work didn't have.
The result is one of the funniest movies that came from Spain recently. We didn't get a chance to see it in its commercial run, since it didn't last too long in local theaters. The story is a modern fable about what lengths human beings go in order to succeed. Never mind that in order to attain one's goal involves murdering your enemy.
Rafael, a personable salesman at Yeyo's department store, has a rivalry going with Don Antonio, who is also assigned to the same floor. Both men hope their sales will make their superiors value the best and make him floor manager. When Antonio wins, because he discovers an irregularity on Rafael's sales receipts, the losing candidate vows to avenge being humiliated by the other man.
Rafa, who is a ladies' man, doesn't have a clue about to what extent will Leonor go to claim him for herself. Leonor is a rather homely woman who is the epitome of efficiency. She has witnessed Rafa's sexual involvement with some of the other sales women and she happens to be at the right place, at the right time when Don Antonio suffers a fatal stroke. Leonor will stop at nothing, and Rafael must pull away from this woman who wants to own him at all costs. When he does, little does he know what a genius Leonor turns out to be on her own.
The best thing in the film are Guillermo Toledo and Monica Cervera. As Rafael and Leonor, these actors make a wonderful team under the director's guidance. Ms. Cervera reminds us of another actress with a peculiar look in the Spanish cinema, Rosy DePalma, another excellent comedienne. Mr. Toledo and Ms. Cervera are worth the price of the DVD as they are fantastic in the film.
Alex de la Iglesia should stay in this course when directing other film.
The result is one of the funniest movies that came from Spain recently. We didn't get a chance to see it in its commercial run, since it didn't last too long in local theaters. The story is a modern fable about what lengths human beings go in order to succeed. Never mind that in order to attain one's goal involves murdering your enemy.
Rafael, a personable salesman at Yeyo's department store, has a rivalry going with Don Antonio, who is also assigned to the same floor. Both men hope their sales will make their superiors value the best and make him floor manager. When Antonio wins, because he discovers an irregularity on Rafael's sales receipts, the losing candidate vows to avenge being humiliated by the other man.
Rafa, who is a ladies' man, doesn't have a clue about to what extent will Leonor go to claim him for herself. Leonor is a rather homely woman who is the epitome of efficiency. She has witnessed Rafa's sexual involvement with some of the other sales women and she happens to be at the right place, at the right time when Don Antonio suffers a fatal stroke. Leonor will stop at nothing, and Rafael must pull away from this woman who wants to own him at all costs. When he does, little does he know what a genius Leonor turns out to be on her own.
The best thing in the film are Guillermo Toledo and Monica Cervera. As Rafael and Leonor, these actors make a wonderful team under the director's guidance. Ms. Cervera reminds us of another actress with a peculiar look in the Spanish cinema, Rosy DePalma, another excellent comedienne. Mr. Toledo and Ms. Cervera are worth the price of the DVD as they are fantastic in the film.
Alex de la Iglesia should stay in this course when directing other film.