A deftly orchestrated romantic comedy that treats a turbulent historical period lightheartedly, yet without completely avoiding political realities; the film's infectious good spirits spring from an engaging story, well-developed characters, and adroit casting.
"Somewhere in Spain, in 1931." Fernando (Jorge Sanz), a young ex-seminarian defecting from the Army after the King's abdication, befriends Manolo (Fernando Fernan-Gomez), a free-thinking, self-proclaimed "heathen, rebel, and libertine" who invites Fernando to his home. Manolo later takes Fernando
to the train station so he can flee to Madrid, but a look at the older man's four daughters compels Fernando to "miss" his train and lodge in Manolo's house. All the daughters--proper young widow Clara (Miriam Diaz-Aroca), frivolous, strong-willed Rocio (Maribel Verdu), aggressive, self-assertive
Violeta (Ariadna Gil), and sweet, romantic Luz (Penelope Cruz)--subtly but surely pursue and seduce him, and shy Fernando is confused as to which of the ladies he loves.
Though the plot sounds like a salacious "farmer's daughters" joke, the four sisters are richly enough written to evade stereotypes. BELLE EPOQUE's one miscalculation comes at the denouement, when a tragedy shatters the otherwise merry atmosphere. Clearly meant to bring home the tensions and
uncertainty of the time, and as a premonition of the civil war to come, it is an abrupt, unexpected turn, discordant in an otherwise lyrical, lightweight entertainment. leave a comment
