Berlanga’s 16th film and it starts with just pages and pages of title card prologues (not a good sign usually if you have to explain that much)
Still, it is clearly made in the Placido (1961- his best work) tradition breakthrough style—it is auteur cinema– a roving ensemble comedy, political, capturing frenetic dialogue in longer takes
One example is at the 34-37 minute mark, there are at least 14-15 people talking, a total of 40 or more in the frame in one shot, characters usher each other around blocking each other—dialogue flying
Literally uses toilet humor- haha, and it is right next to a political satirical joke
Berlanga has been doing this for exactly 40 years at this point, and he’s nearly 70 (he’d only make one more film)—many in the cast are old-timers as well
Another one of these longer takes—about 2 ½ minutes long at the 50-minute mark in the prison yard. Berlanga is sort of passing the baton of dialogue—six speaking parts with 50 people in the background
A prison riot- big ensemble
Recommend but not terribly close to the top 10 of 1993
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