Keswick Film Club - Reviews - Official Competition

Gaston Duprat and Mariano Cohn's Argentinian/Spanish co-production proved a big success at the Alhambra on Sunday evening; it was much appreciated by a large audience providing much needed levity. The film may well be yet another satire on filmmaking, but it is the rare iteration that's nuanced enough to understand that self awareness does not equal absolution.

The Argentinian directors have admittedly corralled a headline grabbing cast: Penelope Cruz and Antonio Banderas sharing, for the first time, a top billing.

Cruz plays Lola Cuevas. A critically acclaimed but notoriously outre director who hires international film star (Banderas) to star in her adaptation of the "Rivalry" about two brothers torn apart by the tragic death of their parents. Ivan Torres (Oscar Martinez) is cast as the co-lead. Martinez is a household name in Argentina both as an actor and teacher of drama whilst Banderas is world famous not least for his role in "Shrek". The two men therefore have off screen differences which they bring to their on screen roles. Both are able to send themselves up, the result being not just entertaining but also hugely funny in parts.

At rehearsals Lola pits the two against each other in an increasingly ludicrous set of acting exercises. She forces them to rehearse one scene with a giant boulder suspended above them, and in another wraps them in clingfilm whilst putting their respective (and actual) awards through a grinder.

The film shows us art for ego's sake and has a lot of spiteful fun in doing so. Indeed we the audience form part of the parodic exercise with our varying interests and occasional snobbery. In part the film is designed to make people who like profound "art house" movies squirm in their seats whilst equally pointing the finger at much of the vacuity of Hollywood.

The final result is a triumph not least for Penelope Cruz's overarching comedic brilliance. She is pitch perfect in a role she clearly relishes.