Review of Justino

Justino (1994)
6/10
Dark comedy filled with grisly murders , dealing with a retired man carries out a killing spree to take holidays in Benidorm
9 November 2016
Justino (Saturnino Garcia) was working as a bull-ring ¨Puntillero¨ (who uses a dagger to kill bulls) but now he is retired . Justino wishes to go Benidorm on holidays -the elderly paradise- along with his best friend named Sansoncito (Carlos Lucas) and he attempts to get the necessary money , at whatever cost , even killing . Finally , Justino is left at a retirement home called ¨Shangrai-La¨ run by a stiff ruler (Alicia Sánchez) where he goes on his killing slaughter .

Outlandish feature debut by two good screenwriters , Luis Gudiri and Santiago Aguilar , nicknamed ¨La Cuadrilla¨ , here they make a black comedy about a psycho-killer who exacts a criminal spree . Passable movie about a ¨Puntillero¨ who only wants to enjoy holidays in the touristic city of Benidorm ; it blends black comedy , drama , urban conventionality , social habits , criticism and ¨Esperpento¨. Made in a very low budget and in black and white and a peculiar plot following the Spanish tradition . It is a piece of absurdity and nonsense , full of comical as well as dramatic situations , family tragedy and strange happenings . Splendid acting by Saturnino Garcia in the title role as a retired senior who finds very difficult to adapt to the new situation although he will find soon a hobby without forgetting his profession . The best parts of this flick ¨Justino, a Senior Citizen Killer¨ result to be the enjoyable descriptions of the Justino's friends with colorful characters such as : the good Sansoncito well played by Carlos Lucas , the sympathetic Renco nicely acted by Francisco Maestre , the ingenuous social assistant interpreted by Marta Fernández Muro and the ambitious neighbour Doña Pura finely performed by the recently deceased Alicia Hermida . Furthermore , an intimate and emotional friendship between Justino/Saturnino Garcia and Sansoncito/Carlos Lucas . Remaining support cast formed by notorious actors who give brief but adequate interpretations , such as : Juanjo Puigcorbe , Enrique Villén , Fernando Vivanco , Félix Rotaeta , Vicky Lagos and Ramón Barea as a weird Police Inspector.

Atmospheric and evocative cinematography in ¨Castizo expressionism¨ by Flavio Martínez Labiano , also producer , considered to be one of the best Spanish cameramen , he photographed successes as "The Day of the Beast" , ¨800 bullets¨ , "Timecrimes" and subsequently working in Hollywood , including box-office movies as ¨Bones¨ , ¨Non-stop¨ , ¨Unknown¨ , ¨The gunman¨ and ¨Shallows¨. Being filmed on location in Madrid and Plaza De Toros , Salamanca, Castilla y León . This offbeat motion picture was decent though strangely directed by Luis Gudiri and Santiago Aguilar in short budget , being financed by crowdfunding and an amount of money delivered by Canal Plus . Shot in 16mm and extended in 35 mm. for its commercial exhibition . In spite of it , and the scabrous theme , ¨Justino¨ had certain success . ¨Justino¨ achieved several Awards , it won Goya Awards 1995 , Goya Best New Actor Saturnino García and Best New Director Santiago Aguilar ; it won Cinema Writers Circle Awards, CEC Award Best New Artist to Santiago Aguilar ; it Won Critics Award Montpellier Mediterranean Film Festival ; it Won Peñíscola Comedy Film Festival to Best Actor Carlos Lucas and Won Best Screenplay Santiago Aguilar , Luis Guridi ; and Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival 1994 Won Best Actor Saturnino García . It belongs to a trilogy directed by ¨La Cuadrilla¨ titled : ¨España Por La Puerta De Atrás¨ formed by ¨Justino , Un Asesino De La Tecer Edad ¨ , ¨Matiás Juez De Línea¨ and ¨Atilano Presidente¨ .
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