1992 Spanish film Jamón Jamón is nowadays best known as the film debut of Penelope Cruz. In it she plays Silvia, humble factory girl who steals the heart of factory owner’s son Jorge-Luis (played by Jordi Molla). Young man is so infatuated with her that she wants to marry her, which is something Jorge-Luis’ mother Conchita (played by Stefania Sandrelli) is determined to prevent at any cost. Her solution to the problem is Raul (played by Javier Bardem), aspiring bullfighter and part-time model, who gets hired to seduce Silvia. This plan backfires when Raul genuinely falls in love in Silvia, while Conchita falls in love in Raul. Directed by Bigas Luna and with impressive cast of former and future stars, Jamón Jamón was advertised as romantic comedy while actually being a rather dark art drama, with Bigas Luna insisting on symbolic shots that represent sexuality. All that culminates in melodramatic but disappointingly artificiaL finale.
RATING: 4/10