Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
Comedy, Drama, Romance |
Vicky Cristina Barcelona is a romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Woody Allen. The plot centers on two American women, Vicky and Cristina, who spend a summer in Barcelona, where they meet an artist, Juan Antonio, who is attracted to both of them while still enamored of his mentally and emotionally unstable ex-wife María Elena. The film was shot in Spain in Barcelona, Avilés and Oviedo, and was Allen’s fourth consecutive film shot outside the United States.
The film premiered at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, then received a rolling worldwide general release that started on August 15, 2008, in the United States, and continued in various countries until its June 2009 release in Japan.
Vicky and Cristina visit Barcelona for the summer, staying with Vicky’s distant relative Judy and her husband Mark. While the two are great friends, Vicky is practical and traditional in her approach to love and commitment and is engaged to the reliable Doug, whereas Cristina imagines herself to be a nonconformist, spontaneous but unsure of what she wants from life or love.
At an art exhibition, Cristina is intrigued by artist Juan Antonio, who Judy says has suffered a violent relationship with his ex-wife. Later, he brazenly approaches the two women to invite them to join him right away for the weekend in the city of Oviedo, in a small plane he flies himself, for sight-seeing, fine eating and drinking, and hopefully, lovemaking. Cristina is won over by the offer almost at once, but Vicky is unimpressed and reluctant; she, however, eventually decides to accompany her friend anyway, mainly to watch over her.
Director: Woody Allen
Writer: Woody Allen
Stars: Rebecca Hall, Scarlett Johansson, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz, Chris Messina, Patricia Clarkson, Kevin Dunn
►Cast:
| Rebecca Hall | … | Vicky |
| Scarlett Johansson | … | Cristina |
| Christopher Evan Welch | … | Narrator (voice) |
| Chris Messina | … | Doug |
| Patricia Clarkson | … | Judy |
| Kevin Dunn | … | Mark |
| Julio Perillán | … | Charles |
| Juan Quesada | … | Guitarist in Barcelona |
| Ricard Salom | … | Art Gallery Guest |
| Maurice Sonnenberg | … | Art Gallery Guest |
| Javier Bardem | … | Juan Antonio |
| Manel Barceló | … | Doctor |
| Josep Maria Domènech | … | Julio |
| Emilio de Benito | … | Guitarist in Asturias |
| Jaume Montané | … | Juan Antonio’s Friend |
| Lloll Bertran | … | Juan Antonio’s Friend (as Lloll Bertrán) |
| Joel Joan | … | Juan Antonio’s Friend |
| Sílvia Sabaté | … | Juan Antonio’s Friend (as Silvia Sabaté) |
| Penélope Cruz | … | Maria Elena |
| Pablo Schreiber | … | Ben |
| Carrie Preston | … | Sally |
| Zak Orth | … | Adam |
| Abel Folk | … | Jay |
| Jordi Basté | … | Art Gallery Guest |
| Christian Caner | … | Party Guest |
| Paco Mir | … | Art Gallery Guest |
| Oliver Moon | … | Party Guest |
| Joan Pera | … | Art Gallery Guest |
| Rodrigo Rojas | … | Party Guest |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia