The second installment of Bigas Luna's trilogy casts Javier Bardem as a man whose architectural aspirations are matched only by his sex drive. Like the director's "Jamon jamon", "Huevos de oro" ("Golden Balls" in English) takes a look at the stereotypical macho Spaniard. Like Jack Nicholson's character in "Carnal Knowledge", this fellow can only get it up if he feels like a big strong man.
I should note that this movie won't be for everyone. It's almost as if the director wanted the protagonist to be unlikable, as if to dare you to root for him. But whatever the case, the result is a profound, complex look at gender relations in Spain. In addition to Bardem, we have Maria de Medeiros (best known to US audiences as Fabienne in "Pulp Fiction"), Maribel Verdú (of "Pan's Labyrinth") and Benicio Del Toro (incidentally, both he and Bardem went on to win Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor).
Worth seeing, but not for the fainthearted.
I should note that this movie won't be for everyone. It's almost as if the director wanted the protagonist to be unlikable, as if to dare you to root for him. But whatever the case, the result is a profound, complex look at gender relations in Spain. In addition to Bardem, we have Maria de Medeiros (best known to US audiences as Fabienne in "Pulp Fiction"), Maribel Verdú (of "Pan's Labyrinth") and Benicio Del Toro (incidentally, both he and Bardem went on to win Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor).
Worth seeing, but not for the fainthearted.