NEW YORK -- This first feature in some 15 years from veteran Spanish filmmaker Eloy de la Iglesia depicts the comic misadventures that ensue from the sexual liaison between an upscale, gay Madrid businessman and his younger, economically deprived Bulgarian lover. Amusingly touching on issues of class, ethnicity and age as they affect relationships, "Bulgarian Lovers" ultimately suffers from an overabundance of plot and a paucity of depth, but it does provide some fleeting comic pleasures along the way.
Daniel (Fernando Guillen Cuervo, who also co-wrote the screenplay) is a middle-aged, prosperous gay man who, like many in his circle, cruises the Madrid bar scene in search of the young Eastern European men who have come to the city in search of economic uplift. One such evening, he meets Kyril (Dritan Beba), a sexy young Bulgarian, and the pair begins a torrid sexual relationship (depicted here in quite graphic fashion). One hitch: Kyril, despite whatever he might do with Daniel, isn't really gay, and is actually engaged to a woman (Anita Sinkovic).
As might be imagined, the relationship plays havoc with Daniel's life, as he soon finds himself enmeshed in Kyril's problems: lending him money, helping him procure illegal immigration papers and ultimately getting immersed in shady business dealings that involve gangsters, drugs and possibly even radioactive materials. So helplessly infatuated is Daniel that he even pays for Kyril and his girlfriend's wedding.
Shifting uneasily between comedy and melodrama, the film never quite lives up to the potential of its premise, and the complicated plot machinations prove less than convincing. But director de la Iglesia provides some stylish touches to the material, and the screenplay contains enough witty elements to lift it above the average sex farce. Particularly helpful in this regard is the lead performance by Cuervo, who comes across as a Spanish Kevin Spacey with his sly comic timing and skill at conveying smarmy desperation.
Daniel (Fernando Guillen Cuervo, who also co-wrote the screenplay) is a middle-aged, prosperous gay man who, like many in his circle, cruises the Madrid bar scene in search of the young Eastern European men who have come to the city in search of economic uplift. One such evening, he meets Kyril (Dritan Beba), a sexy young Bulgarian, and the pair begins a torrid sexual relationship (depicted here in quite graphic fashion). One hitch: Kyril, despite whatever he might do with Daniel, isn't really gay, and is actually engaged to a woman (Anita Sinkovic).
As might be imagined, the relationship plays havoc with Daniel's life, as he soon finds himself enmeshed in Kyril's problems: lending him money, helping him procure illegal immigration papers and ultimately getting immersed in shady business dealings that involve gangsters, drugs and possibly even radioactive materials. So helplessly infatuated is Daniel that he even pays for Kyril and his girlfriend's wedding.
Shifting uneasily between comedy and melodrama, the film never quite lives up to the potential of its premise, and the complicated plot machinations prove less than convincing. But director de la Iglesia provides some stylish touches to the material, and the screenplay contains enough witty elements to lift it above the average sex farce. Particularly helpful in this regard is the lead performance by Cuervo, who comes across as a Spanish Kevin Spacey with his sly comic timing and skill at conveying smarmy desperation.
NEW YORK -- This first feature in some 15 years from veteran Spanish filmmaker Eloy de la Iglesia depicts the comic misadventures that ensue from the sexual liaison between an upscale, gay Madrid businessman and his younger, economically deprived Bulgarian lover. Amusingly touching on issues of class, ethnicity and age as they affect relationships, "Bulgarian Lovers" ultimately suffers from an overabundance of plot and a paucity of depth, but it does provide some fleeting comic pleasures along the way.
Daniel (Fernando Guillen Cuervo, who also co-wrote the screenplay) is a middle-aged, prosperous gay man who, like many in his circle, cruises the Madrid bar scene in search of the young Eastern European men who have come to the city in search of economic uplift. One such evening, he meets Kyril (Dritan Beba), a sexy young Bulgarian, and the pair begins a torrid sexual relationship (depicted here in quite graphic fashion). One hitch: Kyril, despite whatever he might do with Daniel, isn't really gay, and is actually engaged to a woman (Anita Sinkovic).
As might be imagined, the relationship plays havoc with Daniel's life, as he soon finds himself enmeshed in Kyril's problems: lending him money, helping him procure illegal immigration papers and ultimately getting immersed in shady business dealings that involve gangsters, drugs and possibly even radioactive materials. So helplessly infatuated is Daniel that he even pays for Kyril and his girlfriend's wedding.
Shifting uneasily between comedy and melodrama, the film never quite lives up to the potential of its premise, and the complicated plot machinations prove less than convincing. But director de la Iglesia provides some stylish touches to the material, and the screenplay contains enough witty elements to lift it above the average sex farce. Particularly helpful in this regard is the lead performance by Cuervo, who comes across as a Spanish Kevin Spacey with his sly comic timing and skill at conveying smarmy desperation.
Daniel (Fernando Guillen Cuervo, who also co-wrote the screenplay) is a middle-aged, prosperous gay man who, like many in his circle, cruises the Madrid bar scene in search of the young Eastern European men who have come to the city in search of economic uplift. One such evening, he meets Kyril (Dritan Beba), a sexy young Bulgarian, and the pair begins a torrid sexual relationship (depicted here in quite graphic fashion). One hitch: Kyril, despite whatever he might do with Daniel, isn't really gay, and is actually engaged to a woman (Anita Sinkovic).
As might be imagined, the relationship plays havoc with Daniel's life, as he soon finds himself enmeshed in Kyril's problems: lending him money, helping him procure illegal immigration papers and ultimately getting immersed in shady business dealings that involve gangsters, drugs and possibly even radioactive materials. So helplessly infatuated is Daniel that he even pays for Kyril and his girlfriend's wedding.
Shifting uneasily between comedy and melodrama, the film never quite lives up to the potential of its premise, and the complicated plot machinations prove less than convincing. But director de la Iglesia provides some stylish touches to the material, and the screenplay contains enough witty elements to lift it above the average sex farce. Particularly helpful in this regard is the lead performance by Cuervo, who comes across as a Spanish Kevin Spacey with his sly comic timing and skill at conveying smarmy desperation.
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