6/10
A strong portrait of Spaniard young people , compellingly directed by Montxo Armendariz , a very good Spanish filmmaker
9 November 2017
Known film that had big success at Spanish box office with interesting and hard screenplay by director himself and based on a novel by José Ángel Mañas . This film concerns about a riveting journey through the lives of youth , including dramatic deeds , emotions , romances and strong sex scenes , both marked by crude sexuality and eroticism . Good-looking Carlos (Juan Diego Botto) is a troubled young student , a bad guy at just 21 , who lives with a wealthy family (parents : Josep Maria Pou , Mercedes San Pietro) . Nice or annoying as he likes , he is a rebel with no cause who always lives on the edge . By night he goes out to meet his friends (Jordi Mollá , Aitor Merino , Armando del Río) in the Kronen , a bar , they get together and find a common ground . And to enjoy Discoteques and Rock concerts . His reckless life is reduced to sex , drugs and rock an roll . Enjoying on the verge and every situation can be taken a little farther . And more each time , each risked activity is chained to the next, as if it were a continuous night . And , among that , the obscure will of living every minute as if it were the last one . As all the leads met with a tragic ending .

This is an intense as well as dramatic story dealing with youngsters , being well directed by Montxo Armendariz , including his own script , who tries to create an engaging flick plenty of movement and metaphor by tackling a description about a particular and dysfunctional group led by Carlos/Juan Diego Botto and formed by Madrid youthful of the nineties . But especially focusing the relationship between Carlos/Juan Diego Botto and Roberto/Jordi Mollà who is really infatuated for him . They live without scruples and without sentimentality , but something which happens puts Carlos and his friends against a reality they have been attempting to ignore . This is a thought-provoking and deep portrayal starred by the newcomer Juan Diego Botto who gives an acceptable acting as the rebel young who enjoys provoking and transgreding , in which his existence has not limits , no accepted barriers . Botto is a young but veteran actor who has got a lot of hits such as "Martin Hache" , "Roma", ¨The dancer upstairs¨ , ¨Fiesta Del Chivo¨ , ¨Silencio En La Nieve¨ and many others . There are also a long description of varied people : grandfather : André Falcon , parents : José Maria Pou , Mercedes Sampietro , sister : Cayetana Guillén Cuervo , girlfriends : Nuria Prims , Pilar Castro , and friends . This "Stories from the Kronen" delivers a large homage to the famous film ¨Henry , portrait of a killer¨ by John McNaughton , a notorious thriller to whom Director pays a real tribute . The motion picture was well directed Montxo Armendáriz who wrote the screenplay along with José Ángel Mañas (novel's author) . It won several prizes and nominations . As Cannes Film Festival 1995 Nominated Palme d'Or Montxo Armendáriz ; Cinema Writers Circle Awards, Spain 1996 Won CEC Award Best Screenplay Adapted to Montxo Armendáriz , José Ángel Mañas ; Goya Awards 1996 Won Goya Best Adapted Screenplay and Nominated Goya Best New Actor Juan Diego Botto ; Spanish Actors Union 1996 Nominated Newcomer Award Juan Diego Botto .

Splendid , luxurious photography with juicy atmosphere by Alfredo Mayo who subsequently would make a prestigious career as cameraman . The picture perfectly produced by the magnificent producer Elias Querejeta was professionally made by Montxo who is a well recognized filmmaker both nationally and internationally , and in proof of it he won many prizes in several Festivals . Montxo Armendáriz was born in Navarra, and his films are mostly set in this Spanish region . He is a smart writer and director , expert on dramas , being especially known for Tasio (1984) one of Armendariz's undisputed masterpieces and fundamental in his filmography where shows efficiently an attractive story and shot at the height of his creativity , 27 hours (1986) , Cartas a Alou (1990) , Silencio Roto or Broken silence (2001) Obaba (2005), and No Tengas Miedo (2011) . And especially Secretos del Corazón (1997), a sensational film that dispenses a brooding plot and considered to be one of the best Spanish films of the 90s , in fact was voted one of the best pictures by professionals and critics .
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