You won't be disappointed!

Very well executed

one of my absolute favorites!

Lack of good storyline.

For clarification purposes: Penélope Cruz was born 1974 in this 1982 film and Stefania Sandrelli plays not the rôle of her mother but that of her character's boyfriend, José Luis.

To be honest, I remember to have checked this movie during my college years as it was called "scandalous". But I left before its end as it seemed a bit too raw.Today, Penélope fairy changes everything. It's funny to see that she didn't really change over the years and that she was as good in her first movie than actually. It's also funny to see how her path crossed her future husband. They were already one soul in "sin noticias de dios" and there, their first movie meeting makes good memories: running after a pig in the night!Sure, it's always raw, messy and tidy and the movie is disrespectful of a lot of values: the love stories shuffle like a deck of cards, the beloved animals are ultimately eaten. But finally, the movie is totally mastered: there is a real story here as it pushes every character. In addition, the setting is interesting: Sure, it's Spain as they speak Spanish but we can't locate them as it's only a solitary house, next to a road in a desert landscape and a few interiors. It has the feeling of a Lynch movie all the more than it had strange dreams, bizarre shots of food, animals… As it deals ultimately about the relationships between a rich and a poor family, food, love, sex, it's very basic, clear, and ultimately, i liked it.

Many of us do not think of ham and sex having any sort connection. But never before will you witness a film that so strategically intertwines the two. The film's director, Bigas Luna does a wonderful job of mixing these two elements together, making many of the scenes quiet hysterical. In one of many strange and awkward scenes, a fight between Jose and Raul erupts, fighting with slabs of ham for Silva's (Penelope Cruz) heart. Even though we are flooded with absurd comedy, sex has to do with everything; it is what drives the film. To many viewers who have never seen a similar Spanish film, Jamon, Jamon will appear pornographic. There is an abundance of skin shown by the actors and actresses, such as the naked bull fight scene. The sex scenes are awkward and comical, throwing our own idea and perception of sex into question. Bigas Luna does not attempt to balancing, romance, sex, food, drama, and comedy. Had he done this we would be confused about our own emotions, leaving us unsure of how to feel. There is certainly a sense of drama in the film, for example when Silva (Penelope Cruz) falls in love with Raul, the man that was hired whisk her away. Instead of the audience feeling emotionally saddened for Silva, Bigas Luna decides to make us laugh, instead of cry. Turning the whole situation into a sex circle with everyone involved.Overall, the film was very entertaining the entire 95 minutes. Anyone (adults) who watches the movie on a literal level will laugh hysterically.

This movie is truly a classic display of what Spanish Cinema looks like. It almost seems like an Almodovar piece with it's overtly sexual tones and quirky sense of humor. Penelope Cruz portrayal of the shop worker in this is superb and all the character, though played by actors most have never heard of, are played exquisitely. Although this movie is not one I would consider watching with children it is a fantastic movie for those of us who enjoy an amusing slightly sexual foreign comedy. This movie was critically acclaimed for the way it looked at machismo in Spanish culture. It also contains extremely amusing parts about eating garlic and ham. An excellent movie if you are a fan of Almodovar. Viva Pedro!