Mensaka (1998)

Set against the backdrop of Madrid's sizzling urban rock 'n roll scene, Mensaka is a spicy tale of a group of young aspiring musicians trying to strike it rich, while holding on to their creative ideals and friendships. David is a mensaka (motorbike messenger) who also plays drums in a band with the handsome Fran and Javier. The band is on the verge of signing a record contract with a sleazy agent, but tempers flare over their being promoted as young urban poets. David refuses to compromise their rough-edged sound while Fran cares less about the music then filling his quota of pretty female groupies behind his girlfriend's back. As david, Fran and Javi struggle to find their professional identities, each also faces the changing demands of their personal relationships; david with Bea, Fran with Natalia, and Javi with Cristina making Mensaka a film which is "perceptive about the emotional chaos that accomapnies the Great Leap Forward into adulthood; about the patience of the girls while the boys are painfully discovering who they are; and the way that money can convert teen rebellion into pop pulp." (VARIETY)

Sex, drugs and rock & roll

The description of the movie by Variety included here pretty much sums up the plot; if you can call it a plot. This movie was a little distracting with so many things going on and in the end it really wasn't important to follow all the details because the roads lead nowhere. Maybe that is the point. The screenplay won an award in Spain, a Goya( an Oscar equivilent) for best screenplay and was nominated and garnished another award for best new actor. These accolades aside the movie was a bit of a disappointment in that many isues were never resolved . The movie deals with the pitfalls of a rock and roll lifestyle with emphasis on sex, drugs and compromising one's artistic integrity for commercial success, wealth and recognition. At one point the band is compared to a contemporary real Spanish singer and they are dismayed by the "compliment." The acting is top notch and presents characters that are credible with the result being that you become engulfed with the problems of this band. As you watch the movie and the story line continues you will want to know if the problems will work out and by the end of the movie you will still be wondering many of the same things. The movie depicts the rock and roll lifestyle in a manner that is neither glamorous nor sordid but rather a combination of the two ; as in real life nothing is as it seems in black and white but in shades of grey. When the movie comes to a halt you may find yourself surprised that ended and react as I did and say, "that's it"! It is entertaining but not as good as I had anticipated since it had won several awards. In the end this movie is much like life itself that has many unresolved issues left in the past as we move on in this journey. Not bad, not great, this movie is just a tad better than average. January 14, 2004

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