Vicky Christina Barcelona (Woody Allen, 2008): USA

Reviewed by Jesse Solomon. Viewed at the Santa Barbara Film Festival.

Vicky Christina Barcelona was a commissioned project by the city of Barcelona in order to increase tourism; because of this I was a bit weary of viewing a film about a city I hold so dear to my heart. At times there is a sense of advertisement but as a whole the movie is much more of a tour of the beauty and soul of this Spanish city. Javier Bardem plays Juan Antonio the epitome of an “artista machismo” who quickly seduces two young American girls who are living in the city for the summer, Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Christina (Scarlet Johansson). After seeing them across room Juan Antonio invites them to accompany him to the town of Oviedo, where he abruptly proclaims, “they will sight-see, drink wine and, hopefully, make love”. Christina the adventurous of the two who has an immediate attraction to the man agrees immediately, while Vicky is forced into it, during the trip Christian falls ill and Vicky is upset that she must site see with this stranger all over the city. As the night goes on Vicky’s mood is turned by Spanish guitar and the sensitivity of Juan Antonio. The two girls seem to be different in every way, their reasons for traveling to the city are completely opposite but throughout the film they realize what they want may be the same man. As the movie progresses a new character is introduced Maria Elena (Penelope Cruz) the provocatively passionate ex-wife of Juan Antonio. There is no question why Woody Allen choose Penelope Cruz to play the role of Maria Elena, Cruz has long be known as the apple of Barcelona’s eye. She demonstrates this with her wildly unbalanced character that just wants to fill the emotional hole in her relationship with Juan Antonio, possibly by including Vicky or Christina. It takes many candlelit dinners and lazy afternoons for the two girls to find out what it is exactly they want out of life and their trip to Barcelona.

After living out a year of my life in the breath taking city of Barcelona I was beyond excited about the prospect of taking a 96-minute trip back. During those minutes in I truly felt as though I was really back on the cobblestone streets, throughout the movie you are filled with a sense of sexuality, delicious wine and mind-blowing music. The three things that come to mind when I think of my time abroad.

Woody Allen encompassed this love story perfectly using gorgeous background scenery, melodic Spanish guitar and intensely creative atmospheres; there is absolutely nothing I would have changed about this movie. The soundtrack by Entre Dos Aguas fits beautiful with the story, complimenting it perfectly. The cinematography is a basic wide lens technique giving the viewer a sense of closeness, and attachment to the city and its people. As the movie goes on it is clear that nothing is as it seems, the char actors have extreme depth, and their emotional depictions are award winning. I would recommend this movie to anyone with a love for travel and adventure, or just great wine and lovemaking.