A traffic accident during rush hour in Madrid, brings Pablo and Sonsoles in close proximity. Pablo rear ends his car into hers, without major damage. Pablo, who is an executive in what we take is a top company, cannot let go of the anger he felt as he bumped into the woman and the way she got at him. Pablo begins following Sonsoles; he even resorts calling her at home without ever getting her on the phone.
One day, Pablo discovers a beautiful young woman getting in Sonsoles' car as she exits the school she attends. Pablo decides to approach the young woman, passing herself for a policeman investigating the drug dealing in school. Maria, who is wiser than her young years, sees right through the man. Before he realizes, Pablo becomes obsessed with Maria, who begins seeing in him a man that is different than the people he knows. They begin a platonic relationship, but nothing erotic ever happens between them.
"The Weakness of the Bolshevik" is a misleading title. The film is based on a novel by Lorenzo Silva, adapted for the screen by its director, Manuel Martin Cuenca, who was making his film debut with this full length feature. In many ways, the directors stays away from some of the clichés one finds in many Spanish productions where weak screenplays are bolstered with a lot of torrid sex in order to make up for what the film is lacking.
Mr. Martin Cuenca shows talent in presenting characters that are people one can relate to. Pablo is a complex man; we never know what causes his obsession with the young woman. He seems to be a self made man that has gotten to the top on his own merits, coming from humble origins. Maria, on the other hand, is a young woman of a wealthy family who gets intrigued by all the attention Pablo shows in her. His lies are paper thin, but she sees perhaps the possibility of seeing first hand a man that came from a different background.
The director gets good acting from his cast. Luis Tosar keeps impressing as Pablo. Although we never get to guess his initial motives, one can think his only way of getting even with Sonsoles is by enticing Maria to be his lover, although nothing is overtly clear. Maria Valverde, a young and vibrant actress makes an excellent Maria. Mar Regueras plays Sonsoles.
The production was photographed by Alfonso Parra, who gives us a glimpse of the new Madrid with its cutting edge buildings. The musical score is by Roque Banos. Manuel Martin Cuenca shows a new promise in the Spanish cinema.
One day, Pablo discovers a beautiful young woman getting in Sonsoles' car as she exits the school she attends. Pablo decides to approach the young woman, passing herself for a policeman investigating the drug dealing in school. Maria, who is wiser than her young years, sees right through the man. Before he realizes, Pablo becomes obsessed with Maria, who begins seeing in him a man that is different than the people he knows. They begin a platonic relationship, but nothing erotic ever happens between them.
"The Weakness of the Bolshevik" is a misleading title. The film is based on a novel by Lorenzo Silva, adapted for the screen by its director, Manuel Martin Cuenca, who was making his film debut with this full length feature. In many ways, the directors stays away from some of the clichés one finds in many Spanish productions where weak screenplays are bolstered with a lot of torrid sex in order to make up for what the film is lacking.
Mr. Martin Cuenca shows talent in presenting characters that are people one can relate to. Pablo is a complex man; we never know what causes his obsession with the young woman. He seems to be a self made man that has gotten to the top on his own merits, coming from humble origins. Maria, on the other hand, is a young woman of a wealthy family who gets intrigued by all the attention Pablo shows in her. His lies are paper thin, but she sees perhaps the possibility of seeing first hand a man that came from a different background.
The director gets good acting from his cast. Luis Tosar keeps impressing as Pablo. Although we never get to guess his initial motives, one can think his only way of getting even with Sonsoles is by enticing Maria to be his lover, although nothing is overtly clear. Maria Valverde, a young and vibrant actress makes an excellent Maria. Mar Regueras plays Sonsoles.
The production was photographed by Alfonso Parra, who gives us a glimpse of the new Madrid with its cutting edge buildings. The musical score is by Roque Banos. Manuel Martin Cuenca shows a new promise in the Spanish cinema.