Juego de Luna (2001) User Reviews

Atmospheric piece

[khatcher-2 · 7/10 · 10 January 2004]

Deep inside lugubrious dens the cards are served, offering some really wonderful panning across the faces of the concentrated players, and in the middle of them a rather striking young woman who has got herself into a man's world of hard drinkers, heavy smokers, dead-pan faces, as chips and cash are pushed back and forth over the green felt. An anguishing world of getting money from wherever so as to sit at the big one, and even more anguishing - getting more money to pay back what you have lost.

This is the world in which Luna moves, having grown up in whiskey bars, nicely played out by Ana Torrent, who is the main reason for my seeing the film after her participation in films such as `Vacas', `Tesis' (qv) and `Yoyes'. I was also keen to see Dafne Fernández again after her very nice appearances in `Pajarico' (qv) and `Goya en Burdeos' (qv), and the name of Álvaro Monje also called my attention (El Nini in `Las Ratas' - qv). Ana Torrent is well backed-up by a carefully chosen cast who fit in to what we would mostly expect these professional card-players to be like, but without being heavy-handed in stereotyping. The dialogues are mostly correct, with just a few weak moments that do not ring quite true. However, the story rides out its tense drama with sobriety.

The film is further enhanced by very atmospheric directing, creating good tension, helped by both the music and photography. All in all, the film adds up to rather more than what I expected.

Torrent a breath of fresh air in familiar story

[rosscinema · 7/10 · 9 May 2005]

The theme of compulsive gambling has been handled many times in films before but I do consider this effort slightly different in that the protagonist is not a man and the story is told from the standpoint of a woman. Story takes place in Madrid, Spain where we see Luna (Ana Torrent) who has grown up in bars with the stench of whiskey and cigarettes and hardcore card playing so it's not hard to understand how she became a professional gambler herself.

*****SPOILER ALERT***** Luna's father was killed by a local mobster when his gambling became out of control and he owed more money than he had but this doesn't stop Luna of wanting to play cards with Reca Montero (Manuel Moron) who's considered the best in town. Luna was raised by Leo (Carlos Caniowski) who was a good friend of her parents and runs a tavern but they became estranged over the years when she decided to be like her father. When Luna's luck goes sour and she ends up owing a lot of money she and Leo patch things up and he ends up helping her by giving her the deed to the bar to use as collateral. Luna has also met a nice young man named Juan (Manuel San Martin) and she wants to pay off what she owes and leave town for good with him but she's not sure that she can put gambling behind her and live a normal life.

This is directed by Monica Laguna who keeps things moving at a good pace and makes an admirable attempt at avoiding the usual clichés although the main premise is familiar. One reason I think Laguna may be a good choice to direct this is that the film is about a woman and since we have seen very few gambling films with the main character being female she and Torrent together might get a better handle on the character Luna. I first became captivated by Ana Torrent years ago after my initial viewing of "The Spirit of the Beehive" and since then I have followed her career very closely to where she has matured into a beautiful woman and an incredible actress. Not only is her performance very good here but she possesses a presence on film that can't be denied and I (for one) just cannot take my eyes off of her. The rest of the film is enjoyable and Laguna's direction is sharp but the main reason that this film works is because of Torrent who adds many dimensions to Luna to the point that audiences can actually understand her actions.

The film follows the story of a young poker player well played by Ana Torrent who comes to carry out a vengeance

[ma-cortes · 7/10 · 31 July 2021]

An up-and-coming poker player called Luna (Ana Torrent) tries to prove himself in high-stakes matches against expert professionals . Luna is a roving card-shark determined on his way to the big time. She wants to play and win always , so that his reputation will rise in gambling circles. But Luna actually decides to play with his father's killer. It takes place in Madrid, where we see Luna (Ana Torrent) who has grown up in bars and dark surroundings with full of mobsters , gamblers and sinister people . Luna plays poker for a living and for a vendetta . Luna wishes anxiously to play cards with Reca Montero (Manuel Moron) who's considered the best in town and actually to exact a relentless revenge . Luna's father (Jorge De Juan) was killed by a local gangster when his gambling became out of control and he owed more money than he had , subsequently she's cared by their parents's friend , Leo (Carlos Caniowski) who runs a bar , though they became estranged over the years . Along the way , Luna has romances with his childhood friend, today incarcerated (Ernesto Alterio) and a young man with future named Juan (Manuel San Martin) . To play , she has to get an amount of cash , that's why she asks for a credit from Reyes (Carlos Bardem) . But Luna's luck goes wrong and she ends up owing a lot of money . Later on , she wants to pay off what she owes to pass an ordinary life.

This interesting film contains emotion , drama and a lot of competing game in the tradition of the American films as the not dissimilar : Cincinatti Kid , or The Hustler , the latter in the Billiar environment . Stars Ana Torrent as Monica, an expert card player who wants to carry out a merciless vengeance , meanwhile she has meaningless romances with Ernesto Alterio and Manuel San Martin . Here Ana Torrent had one of his main and best performances as an adult , though long time ago , she got a huge hit in her earliest film debut El espíritu de la colmena (1973) and after Cria Cuervos (1976) . As the film benefits itself from the exceptional acting by Ana Torrent as the attractive young raised by a tavern-owner and become a professional gambler .Here stands out a great support cast with plenty of prestigious secondaries , such as : Ernesto Alterio as the imprisoned boyfriend , Carlos Caniowski as the friend who decides to be like her father , Antonio Dechent as a nasty mobster , Manuel Moron , Juan Pedro Carrión , Dafne Fernández , Álvaro Monje , Carlos Bardem ,Luis Zahera, Fernando Cayo , Luis Callejo , among others .

It contains a splendid cinematography by notorious cameraman Teo Delgado who has photographed successes as La catedral del Mar , Tension sexual no resuelta , Animales de compañía , Torrrente, La máquina de bailar , Lifting de corazón , A golpes and many others . The motion picture finely produced by Andrés Vicente Gómez was well directed by Monica Laguna . This was her second and last film , previously shooting Tengo Una casa 1996. It won several prizes and nominations , such as : Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2001 Nominee Crystal Globe Mónica Laguna , Málaga Spanish Film Festival 2001 Winner Silver Biznaga Best Director Mónica Laguna , Nominee Golden Biznaga Mónica Laguna.

Poker

[jotix100 · 7/10 · 29 November 2009]

Luna, the young woman at the center of this Spanish film, has seen a lot in her life. As a young girl, she was always around the card players that gathered at Leo's tavern in Madrid. Luna had to endure finding her dead father, who was shot by Cesar's people. Having no relatives, she grows up into a street smart girl that knows a lot about gambling. She turns into a professional gambler that is always lucky because she plays with a cool head.

Unfortunately, Luna makes the mistake of breaking with Leo, who had brought her up over a petty argument. Luna, who was seeing Nano, a local youth now in jail, meets Juan, a man that after falling for her, has to move to another city. Luna begins a bad streak because her mind is in turmoil. To make matters worse, she commits the ultimate sin: she borrows money from Cesar's people that she must repay with high interest.

After Leo dies, she decides to confront Cesar face to face. For that she goes with the deed to Leo's tavern, that now is hers. Cesar, who thinks she can't win, accept the challenge to play with Luna thinking he has an advantage over her. He is surprised to play against an opponent that has learned how to control her hatred for him and his world.

Our main interest for watching the film was the presence of Ana Torrent, one of the most charismatic and intelligent actresses working in Spain's cinema today. We were not disappointed thanks to Monica Laguna inspired direction. Ms. Laguna, who co-wrote the script, shows a talent for getting an ensemble acting from her large cast.

We also liked Carlos Kaniowsky's Leo as well as a sly Antonio Dechent, who appears as Cesar. Ernesto Alterio and Manuel San Martin play Nano and Juan, who love Luna.