A highly sophisticated as well as accomplished work by Mario Camus . This is a provoking but slow-moving drama concerning on a few roles who suffer the consequences of their decisions . During a hot summer in Madrid a higher-class young woman called Elisa (Catherine Spaak) falls in love with an older man named Pablo (Frédéric De Pasquale) who has a bad reputation amongst the upper crust of Madrid . Pablo is a loner , an outsider , and separated father who lives with his child named Andrés (José Luis Alonso) . Later on , Elena asks for advice about this special relationship to her understanding uncle (Andrés Mejuto). Meanwhile , there takes place jealousy and violent attitudes by her ex-boyfriend Fernando (Alejandro Enciso) .
It is a peculiar story of love with a surprising result behind , where we find acute descriptions about higher classes , some atmospheric settings as well as attractive and troublesome roles . The motion picture was compelling and professionally directed in his particular style by this great and veteran filmmaker/writer called Mario Camus , a prolific director with three decade filmography filled with great works , varying from romantic comedies , dramas and musicals to excellent renditions . Being based on a novel by Ignacio Aldecoa , also adapted in ¨Young Sánchez¨, Camus's early film . This interesting as well as intimate story is a passionate retelling and a touching drama . Intense and heart-rending drama about a deep love story that leads to tragic consequences . It is a nice adaptation from a famous novel , in fact Camus is considered to be an expert screen-writer and filmmaker of prestigious novels , as is the case of the notorious TV series ¨Fortunata Y Jacinta¨ (1980) and the film ¨La Colmena¨ (1982) or ¨The Hive¨ . Here Camus carries out a more personal style , where he tells a story closer to him that let him go through less worn themes , similarly he made ¨Con El Viento Solano¨ (1967) or ¨Los Días Del Pasado¨ (1978). The roles in this film ¨The Birds of Baden-Baden¨ are all lovable despite being rather unlucky and unfortunate characters . Gorgeous Catherine Spaak gives an acceptable acting as a beautiful young in love , though she does not reach entirely immersed in the whirlwind of passion and Frédéric de Pasquale as Pablo stands out as a humble as well as strange man who is really infatuated . Support cast is frankly excellent , with plenty of familiar faces giving brief but attractive interpretations , such as : Carlos Larrañaga , Antonio Iranzo , Cándida Losada , Andrés Mejuto , Teresa Del Río , Carlos Otero , Concha Cuetos , William Layton , and Carmen De La Maza .
Spotless pictorial as well as colorful photography by magnificent cameraman Hans Burmann , he carries out a photography with juicy atmosphere , being filmed on location in Madrid . Furthermore , a willingness almost perfect of the elements of each frame , every scene , every place . Atmospheric and moving musical score by Antón Garcia Abril composed in the seventies style . The flick was well directed by Mario Camus following his Sui-Generis style . Camus was born in Santander , Cantabria , location in which he often shoots his films . He worked with Carlos Saura in several screenplays during the early 60s as ¨Los Golfos¨ (1960), ¨ Llanto Por Un Bandido¨ (1964), and also directed some shorts . Camus shows a penchant for literary and perhaps he's the best Spanish film adapter, a fact that will be a constant in his films . His first feature films were ¨Los Farsantes¨ (1963) and ¨Young Sánchez¨ (1964), this is one of the greatest movies about boxing which won the Best Film Award at the Buenos Aires Festival . Mario has an important career with film and television adaptations quite remarkable , as he efficiently directed yarns based on notorious writers such as Perez Galdos , García Lorca , Cela Camilo José Cela and Miguel Delibes . During various decades he touched styles varying from romantic comedies and musicals with ¨Rafael¨ to splendid adaptations from famous novels , as is the case of the prestigious TV series "Fortunata y Jacinta" (1979) . In 1983 he was given the 'Medalla Oro De las Bellas Artes' (Arts Gold Medal) , and one year later he prepared his most successful work both with public and critic : ¨Los Santos Inocentes¨ (1984), an adaptation from the novel by Miguel Delibes . Mario is an expert on interesting dramas as proved in ¨ The house of Bernarda Alba¨ , ¨La Colmena¨ which won the Golden Bear Award at the Berlin Film Festival , ¨The days of the past ¨ and many others . Rating : Better than average ; it's a decent film though sometimes slow-moving .
