Gaudi Afternoon (2001)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Susan Seidelman

Writers:

James Myhre (writer)
Barbara Wilson (novel)

Release Date:

20 July 2001 (South Africa)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Mystery

Plot:

Alone in a foreign city, Cassandra must solve a family's darkest, deepest secrets before she can confront her own past.

Plot Keywords:

Child Custody | Gender Bender | Lesbian | Barcelona Spain | Magician

Cast

Judy Davis	...	Cassandra Reilly
Marcia Gay Harden	...	Frankie Stevens
Lili Taylor	...	Ben
Juliette Lewis	...	April
Courtney Jines	...	Delilah
María Barranco	...	Carmen
Christopher Bowen	...	Hamilton
Pep Molina	...	Paco
Víctor Álvaro	...	Juan
Steve Itkin	...	Harry (voice)
Sergi Ruiz	...	Carlos
Glòria Casas	...	Elisa
Aitor Extravizz	...	Esteban
Glòria Roig	...	Carmen's Mother
Saskia Lange	...	Maria

Also Known As:

Tardes de Gaudí (Spain)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and sexual content.

Runtime:

97 min | Argentina:93 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival)

Country:

Spain

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:MA (cable rating) | Brazil:14 | Finland:K-7 | Norway:7 | Spain:13 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain

Company:

Antena 3 Televisión

Quotes:

Carmen: [to Cassandra] It's no wonder you can never get a date - sexual confusion.

Movie Connections:

References Saturday Night Fever (1977)

Surprisingly Good

Yes the plot sounds unusual, however this movie works far better than I expected. It seems to almost have a haunting effect - with scenes being remembered long after the movie stops.

I think what can take an average movie to an exceptional one is sometimes casting. If the characters in the movie are cast exactly right, that adds a tremendous amount. Such is the case in this movie. The characters are all... well ... characters. The characters seem deep and they seem to be themselves rather than acting. Yes, some of the gender-bending may make a few people uncomfortable, but most of the movie works and works quite well.

Other movies where I thought the casting made the movie exceptional? "Slap Shot" with Paul Newman I thought was cast extremely well with the unforgettable Hanson Brothers. I also thought that Russell Crowe made the Gladiator movie and part most exceptional - so much so, that I had wondered if he would work out in another movie. Yes he does by the way. Russell Crowe is an exceptional actor. However, he was an absolute natural as the Gladiator. Likewise the actresses and actors in this film, Gaudi Afternoon, seem to be naturals for their parts.