It deals with the particular relationship between a provincial spinster , a 43-year-old woman named Adela (Jose Luis Lopez Vazquez) and her maid Isabelita (Julieta Serrano) who helps herself by sewing. Despite having an ungraceful physique , she has a peculiar personality who has captivated widower Santiago (Antonio Ferrandis), a bank director . One day , on her priest's (Enrique Avila) advice, Adela visits a doctor, all of them to make her to discover that she is a man. As she's a sad woman who discovers that is really a man and then embarks on the complex adventures of changing her sex . And subsequently takes on a new life in the capital, Madrid. There things go wrong , as he has nothing with the exception for some piano knowledge and his ability to sew .
A peculiar comedy of customs , depicting the narrow-minded , intolerant and repressive society at the time, written/produced by director Jose Luis Borau and well directed and written by Jaime De Armiñan. This was one of the greatest successes of Spanish cinema, concerning a special person who discovers something that perhaps she always halfway suspected: she is actually a man and from now she/he must face an intolerant society and a world that doesn't accept people like him . Shot competently and effectively with economy of means ; it results to be an interesting mix of tragicomedy and allegation about the female condition in Spain at the end of General Francisco Franco's dictatorship. Here highlights the sober interpretation by the great José Luis López Vazquez in the difficult role as a spinster living in a small town that discovers she is actually a man. As well as the luminous and adequate cinematography by Luis Cuadrado. Along with a splendid remaining cast such as Julieta Serrano, Antonio Ferrandis, Lola Gaos, Chus Lampreave and Monica Randal, all of them giving terrific acting.
Being compelling and professionally directed by Jaime De Armiñan , with much originality , being his best movie . Jaime dares to lead this dramedy with notable results , and offers us here an entertaining and brooding story . It's a major and important effort in his important cinematic career . An object of lesson by an old master filmmaker who will appeal his fans . Jaime De Armiñán was born on March 9 , 1927 in Madrid , where he often shoots his films . His firs movie was a Marisol vehicle : Carola de dia , Carola de noche (1969) . Jaime is a writer and director , particularly known for Mi Querida Señorita (1972) , El Amor Del Capitán Brando (1974) , Stico (85) and Mi General (1987). Jaime Armiñan achieved several successes , such as : Jo , Papá (1975) , Al Servicio De La Mujer Española (1978) and especially El Nido (1980) and Hora Bruja (1985) at his best . Armiñan also directed great TV series as Una Gloria Nacional (1993) , Cuentos Imposibles (84) and , of course , Juncal (1989) . Rating : 7/10 . Better than average . Worthwhile watching .
