La Muchacha de las Bragas de Oro
Encyclopedia
The Girl with the Golden Panties is a 1980 Spanish Film directed by Vicente Aranda
. It stars Victoria Abril
and Lautaro Murúa
. The film was based upon a novel by Catalonian author Juan Marsé
. La Muchacha de las Bragas de Oro explores the changing nature of a former fascist, a reflection of Spain
facing its past during Franco
’s regime. The film exhibits a sexual frankness which was off-limits in Spanish films made before 1975.
to devote himself to review his past, write his memoirs and ruminate over his failed marriage. He feels guilty because of his political past and lives in virtual isolation in his large house accompanied only by his dog and Tesla, the housekeeper.
His isolation is suddenly interrupted by the unexpected visit of his niece, Mariana. Young and wildly carefree, Mariana has arrived with the excuse to interview her uncle about the biographical book he's writing. The reportage would appear in the magazine where she works with her aunt, Sole, Luis’ estranged wife. Mariana has not seen her uncle in many years and is happy in his company. She has arrived with a mysterious silent photographer, a male friend of foreign origin, Elmyr. They shake up Luis' staid world. Mariana and Elmyr have a close relationship; they argue frequently, smoke some drugs together, and it is evident that they are lovers. Elmyr paints golden panties on Mariana’s body.
Mariana’s mother calls Luis to warn him if her daughter is in the company of Elmyr, whom she describes as an drug addict with suicidal tendencies. She also tells Luis that Sole has died unexpectedly. There is not need for him to worry about funeral arrangement since Sole has already been buried and their four children do not want to see him.
Flashbacks, tell the story of Luis Forest when he was young. He was smitten with Mari, Mariana's mother, and her sister, Sole. He was first courting Mari, but one dark night by the piano, he made love to Sole thinking that it was her sister. That eventually led him to marry Sole. Their marriage was not happy, in spite of Sole’s efforts, and she ended up leaving her husband years ago. The other sister, Mariana’s mother, in a time in which she was drinking a lot, had a one-night stand with Luis. However, shortly after, she married, José Maria Tey, Luis’ close friend.
The past that Luis is preserving in his memoirs is more fiction than truth. He is rewriting the facts, inventing many and softening many more. His book of memoir is full of lies that his niece soon discovers when she offers him to type the manuscript. Slowly, Mariana's taunting and teasing breaks down Luis’ intellectual barriers and, as that happens, she becomes more interested in him.
Elmyr is not really a man but a female friend of fragile psychology and suicidal tendencies. Mariana and Elmyr have male lovers who they bring to the house. One night, while Mariana is out in the town, Luis expels Elmyr from the house. Mariana is initially very upset but she calms down kowing that Elmyr is safe in Ibiza
.
Alone with her uncle, Mariana begins a game of seduction until Luis succumbs. When Mariana’s mother (the writer’s sister-in-law) comes to visit, worried about what he can say about her in his memoirs, it is revealed that Mariana is in fact his daughter. Luis feels guilty of the incestuous relationship they have had and tries to commit suicide.
had hoped to make a film about the Spanish Civil War
, but due to expense this project would have to wait until when he finally filmed it as Libertarias
.
Instead Aranda turned to the new novel by Catalonian author Juan Marsé
, just out and a controversial winner of the 1979 Premio Planeta
( the Spanish Booker Prize).
La Muchacha de las Bragas de Oro was to be made cheaply in just a few interiors settings. Aranda upped the budget with money from Venezuelan producers and added exterior locations to the script, thereby allowing the film to function in terms of calculated chiaroscuro that alternates light and shadow as an illustration of the truth and lies of the protagonist.
Vicente Aranda
Vicente Aranda , is a Spanish film director, screenwriter and producer.Due to his refined and personal style, he is one of the most renowned Spanish filmmakers. He started as a founded member of the Barcelona School of Film and became known for bringing contemporary Spanish novels to life on the...
. It stars Victoria Abril
Victoria Abril
Victoria Abril is a Spanish film actress. She is best known to international audiences for her performance in the movie ¡Átame! by director Pedro Almodóvar....
and Lautaro Murúa
Lautaro Murúa
Lautaro Murúa was a Chilean-born Argentine actor, film director, and screenwriter. He is one of the best known actors in the Cinema of Argentina....
. The film was based upon a novel by Catalonian author Juan Marsé
Juan Marsé
Juan Marsé is a Spanish novelist, journalist and screenwriter, born in Barcelona on January 8, 1933 as Juan Faneca Roca.His mother died in childbirth, and he was soon adopted by the Marsé family. At age 14 he started to publish some of his writings in Insula magazine and in a cinema magazine while...
. La Muchacha de las Bragas de Oro explores the changing nature of a former fascist, a reflection of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
facing its past during Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
’s regime. The film exhibits a sexual frankness which was off-limits in Spanish films made before 1975.
Plot
Luis Forest, an aging Falangist writer, has retired to SitgesSitges
*Church of Sant Bartolomeu i Santa Tecla . It houses two Gothic sepulchres , belonging to the an older church located on the same site...
to devote himself to review his past, write his memoirs and ruminate over his failed marriage. He feels guilty because of his political past and lives in virtual isolation in his large house accompanied only by his dog and Tesla, the housekeeper.
His isolation is suddenly interrupted by the unexpected visit of his niece, Mariana. Young and wildly carefree, Mariana has arrived with the excuse to interview her uncle about the biographical book he's writing. The reportage would appear in the magazine where she works with her aunt, Sole, Luis’ estranged wife. Mariana has not seen her uncle in many years and is happy in his company. She has arrived with a mysterious silent photographer, a male friend of foreign origin, Elmyr. They shake up Luis' staid world. Mariana and Elmyr have a close relationship; they argue frequently, smoke some drugs together, and it is evident that they are lovers. Elmyr paints golden panties on Mariana’s body.
Mariana’s mother calls Luis to warn him if her daughter is in the company of Elmyr, whom she describes as an drug addict with suicidal tendencies. She also tells Luis that Sole has died unexpectedly. There is not need for him to worry about funeral arrangement since Sole has already been buried and their four children do not want to see him.
Flashbacks, tell the story of Luis Forest when he was young. He was smitten with Mari, Mariana's mother, and her sister, Sole. He was first courting Mari, but one dark night by the piano, he made love to Sole thinking that it was her sister. That eventually led him to marry Sole. Their marriage was not happy, in spite of Sole’s efforts, and she ended up leaving her husband years ago. The other sister, Mariana’s mother, in a time in which she was drinking a lot, had a one-night stand with Luis. However, shortly after, she married, José Maria Tey, Luis’ close friend.
The past that Luis is preserving in his memoirs is more fiction than truth. He is rewriting the facts, inventing many and softening many more. His book of memoir is full of lies that his niece soon discovers when she offers him to type the manuscript. Slowly, Mariana's taunting and teasing breaks down Luis’ intellectual barriers and, as that happens, she becomes more interested in him.
Elmyr is not really a man but a female friend of fragile psychology and suicidal tendencies. Mariana and Elmyr have male lovers who they bring to the house. One night, while Mariana is out in the town, Luis expels Elmyr from the house. Mariana is initially very upset but she calms down kowing that Elmyr is safe in Ibiza
Ibiza
Ibiza or Eivissa is a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea 79 km off the coast of the city of Valencia in Spain. It is the third largest of the Balearic Islands, an autonomous community of Spain. With Formentera, it is one of the two Pine Islands or Pityuses. Its largest cities are Ibiza...
.
Alone with her uncle, Mariana begins a game of seduction until Luis succumbs. When Mariana’s mother (the writer’s sister-in-law) comes to visit, worried about what he can say about her in his memoirs, it is revealed that Mariana is in fact his daughter. Luis feels guilty of the incestuous relationship they have had and tries to commit suicide.
Cast
- Lautaro MurúaLautaro MurúaLautaro Murúa was a Chilean-born Argentine actor, film director, and screenwriter. He is one of the best known actors in the Cinema of Argentina....
- Luis Forest - Victoria AbrilVictoria AbrilVictoria Abril is a Spanish film actress. She is best known to international audiences for her performance in the movie ¡Átame! by director Pedro Almodóvar....
- Mariana - Hilda Vera - Mariana’s mother
- Perla Vonacek - Elmyr
- Pep Munné - young Luis Forest
- José María Lana. - José María Tey
- Isabel Mestres - Sol
- Raquel Evans - Mari
- Consuelo de Nieva - Tecla
Production
Director Vicente ArandaVicente Aranda
Vicente Aranda , is a Spanish film director, screenwriter and producer.Due to his refined and personal style, he is one of the most renowned Spanish filmmakers. He started as a founded member of the Barcelona School of Film and became known for bringing contemporary Spanish novels to life on the...
had hoped to make a film about the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
, but due to expense this project would have to wait until when he finally filmed it as Libertarias
Libertarias
Libertarias is a Spanish historical drama made in 1996. It was written and directed by Vicente Aranda.In 1936, Maria , a young nun is recruited by Pilar , a militant feminist, into an anarchist militia following the onset of the Spanish Civil War...
.
Instead Aranda turned to the new novel by Catalonian author Juan Marsé
Juan Marsé
Juan Marsé is a Spanish novelist, journalist and screenwriter, born in Barcelona on January 8, 1933 as Juan Faneca Roca.His mother died in childbirth, and he was soon adopted by the Marsé family. At age 14 he started to publish some of his writings in Insula magazine and in a cinema magazine while...
, just out and a controversial winner of the 1979 Premio Planeta
Premio Planeta
The Premio Planeta de Novela is a Spanish literary prize, awarded since 1952 by the Spanish publisher Grupo Planeta to an original novel written in Spanish . It is one of about 16 literary prizes given by Planeta....
( the Spanish Booker Prize).
La Muchacha de las Bragas de Oro was to be made cheaply in just a few interiors settings. Aranda upped the budget with money from Venezuelan producers and added exterior locations to the script, thereby allowing the film to function in terms of calculated chiaroscuro that alternates light and shadow as an illustration of the truth and lies of the protagonist.