Wuhuu.... this will be quite a hard review to make....and the main reason for this is because I know a lot of people will be bored by this movie even if it is a masterpiece. Why is it a masterpiece? Whit Stillman showed me that movies are not only made to see special effects or to laugh till your belly hurts. Actually this is the first film I have seen written and directed by Mr. Whit. The dialogues keep you intrigued from the beggining until the end. The script is so well written that I had to do a review. I believe that someone out there will appreciate this kind of movie and will understand why my review is so positive. The story centers around two cousins in Barcelona not knowing what life expects from them, at the end of the Cold War, Ted and Fred. Their approach to life is somehow alike to a kid realising that there is more to life than he knew till that moment.
Their different perspectives about love leads them into a lot of adventures full of tension, but funny. Ted holds a lifetime grudge on Fred and always thinks he will not be payed back when his cousin borrows money. Their relationship is typical and that manages to make them feel more realistic, especially if you have a relative that resembles to one of them. Ted is almost like a robot at first, a man that doesn't know how to enjoy life at its fullest. Fred manages to show him what family means, despite always questioning the politics in Barcelona. A clichee, but understandable, is that Ted realises what Fred means to him only after his cousin is shot because he is thought to be a CIA agent. Their background is not so well written and I think it is a minus for this film, but the talk-talk covers it all.
Again, I must say this movie will bore you to death if you are looking for a straight-on romantic-comedy. This movie is about the clash of two different cultures and the differences between their perspective on life, politics, etc. There is no more to be said cuz' I will "bore you to death" with details. Well written, a plot full of clichee covered by the wonderful dialogues that unravels Barcelona in another way than parties and its popular football team. I give it an 8.5/10.