Siempre Te Amare (1997)

Nominated for two Goya Awards, this entertaining story begins during the final days of the regime of General Francisco Franco. The lives of both father and son change dramatically when they abandon their normal lives for the gypsy life on the road making their home base in a small town in the interior of Spain. There, a beautiful girl catches their eye, awakening them and submerging them in a story full of drama and laugh out loud situations that ultimately reveal the complexity of both their personalities by making them reflect on themselves.

Something a little different.

If you like Spanish films, or something a little different this one is pretty good. It has an interesting historical setting, the last days of Franco's regime, the American Air Force Base in Zaragoza, and so forth. It is also an interesting take on the type of personality that is always looking to make a fast buck, or that always has a compact explanation for anything. It's the kind of movie I can pull out and watch again every once in a while. February 7, 2008

watch HBO or Cinemax

If you like this type of movie (and I do)you'll get more excitement from a T&A late show on cable. Rent it and see if you agree. September 12, 2007

Father-Son Road Trip

I truly enjoyed this movie, as it was a refreshing break from your typical Hollywood fare. The box cover art is most likely designed to entice the many worldwide fans of Maribel Verdu, which are legion. Her entry seems rather late into the film even though her role is crucial as is that of Miriam Diaz Aroca playing the part of Estrella.

This is a father-son, coming to grips with each other and themselves road trip film. Antonio Resines plays the father who has some deep secrets and obsessions while he strives to make a buck in some rather odd ways. His son Felipe played by Fernando Ramallo is becoming a man and discovering all the faults of his father and his fathers past at the same time.

Even though the film was nominated for two Goya Awards, it is fairly apparent why it didn't win any. The movie for me was still as I said before fun to watch and better than most of what the American screen has to offer on any given day.
July 4, 2007

for fernando ramallo fans

THIS IS A REVIEW OF THE FILM CARRETERAS SECUNDARIAS, NOT THE FILM SIEMPRE TE AMARE. For some reason Amazon has these two films confused.

This film suffers from a poor script and tacky 30's Hollywood music. A ne'er-do-well father and his son (Ramallo) wander the roads aimlessly in 70's Spain, living by various con-games. Ramallo is charming as usual, - he speaks Spanish in a very winning fashion. But the script has many incongruities, such as the son's most unlikely crush on an American girl who knows no Spanish. Also, the ending is out of a fairy tale - the father inherits money and his humiliating poverty ends. There is an arresting scene of an anti-Franco riot that is worth the price of the movie, if you don't pay too much.

As in many Latin films, there is a lot of obsessive seduction of girls and knowing smirks aplenty, for those who like that sort of thing. Nico and Dani, and also The Heart of the Warrior (not released yet in NTSC format) are better vehicles for Fernando Ramallo, who always effortlessly dominates any film he is in. November 23, 2004

A Gently Beautiful Little Film with a Grand Story

CARRETERAS SECUNDARIAS won many awards in 1997 when it was released in Spain, including some Goyas. Surprisingly it never made an impression in theatres there. But this is one of those sleeper movies that should be viewed by everyone who not only enjoys a good story well told, but also those who want to understand Spain in the final days of Franco's rule. There is much to be said about the delicacy in which director Emilio Martinez Lazaro has adapted the novel by Ignacio Martinez di Pison, electing to underplay the class differences between those born to wealth and the poor people of Spain: in this film less is said and more is felt.

Lozano (a brilliant performance by Antonio Resines) leads a gypsy life with his son Felipe (anther feather in Fernando Ramallo's cap and resume) since the death of his wife, apparently a woman his wealthy family never approved of and hence disinherited Lozano. The two try to keep up appearances of having 'class' when in effect they are destitute. Lozano's pride never falters as he sees himself as an Impresario to Estrella (Miriam Diaz Aroca of 'Belle Epoque'), a would-be opera singer who finally leaves Lozano for another man who promises a better career. Disillusioned, Lozano and Felipe hit the road and encounter a beauty named Paquita (Maribel Verdu whose many screen credits include 'Goya in Bordeaux', 'Belle Epoque') who herself is poor but understands survival. The three of them take off on money making schemes and a gypsy life that has its hilarious moments as well as moments of great tenderness. Along the way Felipe discovers passion, coming of age, and his first introduction to women through his sharing the love-generous Paquita with his father. Felipe encounters more of life in a student uprising against Franco's regime, falls in love with the daughter of an American soldier based in Zaragoza, and tastes the reality of becoming a man without direction, career, or ancestry. One of the trio's con games finally catches up with them and Lozano is jailed. The ending is a wonderful surprise and provides one of the more beautiful father/son relationship explorations on film. The photography is magnificent and if the musical score by Roque Banos is a bit overly grand, blame is on appropriation from Ravel et al! This is a terrific film and deserves as much attention in this country as it garnered in Spain. In Spanish with English subtitles. October 5, 2004

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