El Seductor (Spain, 1995)
Brie Hoffler
El Seductor: A Spanish Comedy of Love and Obsession
El Seductor (The Seducer) is a 1995 Spanish comedy film directed by José Luis García Sánchez and written by Rafael Azcona. The film stars María Barranco, Santiago Ramos, Kiti Manver, and Jorge Sanz as Cosme, a 15-year-old boy who falls madly in love with his neighbor Merche, a 35-year-old married woman and physical therapist. Cosme, driven by an uncontrollable passion, devises a secret plan to seduce Merche and win her heart, despite the obstacles of age, marriage, and society.
The film is based on the novel El seductor by Juan José Millás, which was published in 1988. The novel is a humorous and ironic exploration of the adolescent psyche and the fantasies of love and sex. The film adaptation preserves the tone and style of the novel, while adding some changes to the plot and characters. For example, in the novel, Cosme's sister is a rebellious teenager who runs away from home, while in the film she is a sweet and supportive girl who helps Cosme with his plan. The film also introduces some new characters, such as Merche's husband, who is absent in the novel.
The film was released on March 17, 1995 in Spain, where it received mixed reviews from critics and audiences. Some praised the film for its witty dialogue, charming performances, and faithful adaptation of the novel, while others criticized it for being outdated, predictable, and sexist. The film was also screened at some international film festivals, such as the Montreal World Film Festival and the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. The film has a rating of 6.1 out of 10 on IMDb and 5.4 out of 10 on FilmAffinity.
El Seductor is a film that offers a humorous and nostalgic look at the joys and troubles of adolescence, as well as a satire of the social norms and expectations of love and marriage. The film is a tribute to the classic comedies of Billy Wilder and Woody Allen, as well as to the Spanish cinema of the 1970s. The film is also a showcase for the talent and charisma of its cast, especially María Barranco, who won the Goya Award for Best Actress for her role as Merche.
If you are interested in watching El Seductor, you can find it on MUBI, where you can also read more about the film's cast and crew, critics reviews, and related films. You can also watch the official trailer on YouTube or read the original novel by Juan José Millás online.
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