Film Review: Vicky Christina Barcelona

Woody Allen is a funny little man and this movie is no different. This films reminds me so much of Pedro Almodóvar, perhaps it’s due to the cast. Both Penelope Cruz (Volver, Todo Sobre Mi Madre, Live Flesh(Carne de cañón)) and Javier Bardem (Live Flesh(Carne de cañón)) have both stared in his films.

However this isn’t a Spanish-language film, I didn’t hear any Catalán despite it being set in Barcelona. This feels like it’s from the viewpoint of tourist as the primary language is English and the 2 main English speaking characters are American tourists.

The story is really fun, it focusses on Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) and their summer in Spain, which ends up being spent with the tortured artist Juan Antonio (Bardem) and his crazy ex-wife Maria Elena (Cruz).

The film itself is really interesting however there is a pretty constant narration that gets really annoying as it can be a little patronising. For the most part it doesn’t give you much more information than what you see on screen. Worth watching for the lovely views of Barcelona.