Solid but downbeat drama by Ricardo Franco , being well photographed and compellingly shot . Intense and heart-rending melodrama about a strange couple formed by a violent junkie named Daniel (Jordi Molla) and a girl (Maribel Verdu) with a glass eye ; in childhood and youth, the two were "the inseparables" , being well loved partners . When Daniel is hitting Marina there appears a goodhearted butcher called Rafael (Antonio Resines) , who rescues her from the violent druggie . Later on , both of whom stay together as a couple and marry themselves , but a baby not Rafael's, for he lost his testicles in an accident is born . Rafael looks forward to raising the child as his own if Marina will consent . Then, there again appears Daniel and the couple accepts to care her old friend with unpredictable consequences . Events go wrong when Daniel reappears back from his dangerous life , now as a beggar and unfortunate man . As Marina protects him , in spite of Rafael's objections , and they take Daniel into their luxurious house . Marina wants to heal Daniel through force of will .
This interesting as well as intimate story is a passionate retelling and a touching melodrama , including strong sex scenes and usual nudism by the beautiful Maribel Verdu . Ricardo Franco also writes the sad script along with Pedro Costa and Ángeles González Sinde and taken from some facts based on actual events happened in city of Madrid . Being filmed in his usual formal and stylistic scholarship , without leaving a trace the thought-provoking issues , in terms of dramatic and narrative excitement . This picture bears remarkable to ¨Intruso¨ (1993) by Vicente Aranda starred by Imanol Arias , Victoria Abril , Antonio Valero in similar roles , holding a similar plot and also produced by Pedro Costa and Enrique Cerezo . The main problem has to face "La Buena Estrella" or "Lucky Star", beyond not being able to avoid falling into a claustrophobic drama is precisely derived from the coldness of its staging, which eventually become monotonous and heart-breaking over ninety minutes and some of footage . Good acting by trio protagonist such as Jordi Molla as Daniel , a man now broke and ill who has physical problems of his own , splendid Antonio Resines the bitter , resentful as well as deceived husband and Maribel Verdu who wants to be in love with both , she overcome with sentimentality and takes Daniel under her protection . They are supported by a magnificent secondary cast such as Elvira Mínguez , Clara Sanchis and Ramón Barea as a good priest . Spotless pictorial though dark cinematography by Tote Trenas , being mostly shot at interior . Tote Trenas is deemed to be one of the best Spanish cameraman with a long and prestigious artistic career . Furthermore , a willingness , almost perfect of the elements of each shot , every sequence, every space . Sensitive and rousing musical score by Eva Gancedo , including an enjoyable leitmotif . The picture won several Goya Awards 1998 , the followings : Goya Best Director Ricardo Franco , Best Actor Antonio Resines , Best Screenplay Original Ricardo Franco Ángeles González Sinde , Best Original Score Eva Gancedo and Best Film . Furthermore , won José María Forqué Awards for best film , Mar del Plata Film Festival : Best actor and director , Ondas Awards , San Diego International Film Festival Awards , Spanish Actors Union , Turia Awards , among others
The motion picture was rightly produced by two great producers Pedro Costa and Enrique Cerezo ; being professionally directed in his particular style by Ricardo Franco . This is a Spanish director, writer and lyricist , he was a member of Madrid's independent Cinema, making films about the underprivileged . Ricardo directed a series of award-winning movies firmly establishing him as one of the best Spanish filmmakers , in spite of his early death , as he died on May 20, 1998 in Madrid at 48 years old . He was a director and writer , an expert on literary adaptations and especially known for dramas as Lágrimas Negras (1998) , Berlín Blues (1988) , Desastre Annual , El Sueño De Tanger who also starred Maribel Verdu and this La Buena Estrella (1997) , though he also made some comedy as Gringo Mojado and Oh Cielos . Being his greatest success ¨Pascual Duarte¨ based on the known novel written by Camilo Jose Cela.
