The Enchanted Forest (1987) Poster

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7/10
The enchanted forest is a nice comedy-fantasy film with fabulous interpretations , luxurious cinematography and a magical musical score
ma-cortes12 December 2016
Shot in Galician style , it deals with various stories intertwine themselves and revolving around a magical forest surrounding a village called Cecebre . The film shows the adventures of the human inhabitants of the shrubland of Cecebre and how their paths cross over under the shelter of a lively forest where animals , people and plants form a harmonious system . It notably tells the misfortunes of Malvís (Alfredo Landa) , a farm hand sick of the shortages of his trade , who decides to become a bungling outlaw and hides in the shrubland under the alias Fendetestas , and who is joined by a kid as an apprentice , Fuco . As Malvis assaults and robs the people cross the lush wood . It also deals with Geraldo (Fernando , ¨Chato¨ Valverde) , a well-digger who lost a leg while whale hunting and is in love with Hermelinda (Alejandra Grepi) , who is leaving to the city fed up with her domineering , stingy aunt Juanita (Encarna Paso) ; of the D'Abondo family , as the wealthy Sr. D'Abando who rents his mansion to two sisters Gloria (Alicia Hermida) and Amelia (Amparo Baró) ; of the lost soul of Fiz De Cotobelo (Miguel Rellán) , a spectre or ghoul who wants to go Cuba , being damned to follow the procession of spirits ; and of the lords and ladies of the parish ; there is also a witch (Maria Isberts) who gives advises , lucky charms and predicts future events , among other characters .

The Enchanted Forest is a 1987 marvelous Spanish comedy-fantasy film stunningly directed by José Luis Cuerda, based on the eponymous novel written by Wenceslao Fernández Flórez , with an enjoyable script by the prestigious Rafael Azcona . The flick is pretty well , though is marred by a direct sound and , being overlong , including lots of roles . The film has a large ensemble cast headed by the great Alfredo Landa who gives a top-notch performance as a botcher bandit . It was a critical success winning five Goya Awards including Best Film , Best Director and Best Actor , Alfredop Landa . Support cast is frankly extraordinary such as : Fernando Valverde as the worried cripple who attempts to declare his love to Hermelinda , Miguel Rellán as Fiz De Cotovelo , Alicia Hermida as Gloria Roade , Amparo Baró as Amelia Roade , Fernando Rey as Sr. D'Abondo , Manuel Alexandre as Roque Freire , Encarna Paso as Juanita Arruallo , María Isbert as Moucha , Antonio Gomero as civil guard , Paca Gabaldón as Sra. D'Abondo and several others .

In addition , a spotless pictorial cinematography by Javier Aguirresarobe and a willingness , almost perfect of the elements of each shot , every sequence , every space ; being filmed on location in Sobrado dos Monxes, A Coruña, Galicia, Spain . Aguirresarobe subsequently would make a prestigious career in Hollywood such as ¨Fright night , ¨The twilight saga: eclipse¨, ¨The road¨ , ¨The others¨ and many others . Furthermore , a magic , evocative and sensitive score by José Nieto . El Bosque Animado (English: The enchanted forest) was compellingly directed by José Luis Cuerda . Cuerda is a veteran professional , being his film debut ¨Pares and Nones¨ a typical Madrid comedy . He subsequently directed this ¨El Bosque Animado¨ also with script by notorious Rafael Azcona and based on Wenceslao Fernandez Florez's novel . In the nineties he followed directing failures as a drama titled ¨Viuda De Capitan Contreras¨ and more comedies as ¨La Marrana¨ and ¨Tocando Fondo¨ , a farce about the economic crisis . His greatest success corresponds as producer , as he produced hits for Alejandro Amenabar as ¨Tesis¨ and ¨Abre Los Ojos¨, among others . His highly-acclaimed and successful movie was ¨Lengua De Mariposas¨ , it has a rating as better than average and is a beautiful and powerful film . His most personal movies were two comedies with a peculiar and surrealist sense of humor , this ¨Amanece Que no Es Poco¨ and the following titled ¨Asi en el Cielo Como en Tierra¨ but in anti-religion trending .
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9/10
One of the best Spanish rural comedies ever...
rainking_es17 June 2006
Malvís (Alfredo Landa) is sick of working like crazy for nothing. He'd rather become a bandit, that's much better, he's gonna be the fearful Fendetestas! He'll spread panic in the woods of his region. But there's a little problem: there aren't much people living in his region, everyone knows everyone and everyone is so poor, so is gonna be difficult that someone takes Malvís/Fendetestas too seriously.

This is a magic history, so funny, and full of situations that will make you laugh. It's also full of characters that belong to the Spanish idiosyncrasy: the strict priest, the Guardia Civil, the old devout women, the village idiot... there's even a lost soul wandering around the woods.

The great Alfredo Landa heads a cast that gathered together the best two generations of Spanish scene: from Fernando Rey to Encarna Paso, from Manuel Alexandre to María Isbert... A cast like that would be just unthinkable nowadays. "El Bosque Animado" was the first movie of José Luis Cuerda's trilogy of rural comedies (after this one he made the surreal "Amanece Que No Es Poco", and "Así En El Cielo Como En La Tierra". Those are movies so personal that stress the Spanish culture. The young directors should take note of films like "El Bosque Animado", instead of trying to be the new "enfant terrible" and imitating US worst cinema.

*My rate: 9/10
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