While silly and a little scattered, there are some likable things about "Gaudi Afternoon," a 2001 film starring Judy Davis, Marcia Gay Harden, Lili Taylor, and Juliette Lewis, directed by Susan Seidelman.
Judy Davis plays Cassandra, a translator living in Barcelona. She's approached by a glamorous woman, Frankie (Marcia Gay Harden) and offered money if she can locate her husband. After a few minutes of refusing her, Cassandra agrees to do the job. Frankie hands her a phone number and says she believes it's her husband's, but she needs an address to go with it. Cassandra complies.
Not so fast. Turns out Frankie actually had the address, but she needs to make sure he's still there. She sends Cassandra out with a tiny camera to photograph everyone who comes in and out, after giving Cassandra a description that could fit anyone. Cassandra figures out who Ben is (after hearing his name called) and brings the photos to Frankie, who also identifies Ben from the photo. Ben was in the photo, all right, but he wasn't the guy in the photo.
This is a gender-bender comedy with a remarkably subdued performance by the usually theatrical Davis, and wonderful performances by Marcia Gay Harden, Lili Taylor, and Juliette Lewis. Seidelman obviously likes quirky actresses, and she sure has a few of them here.
Barcelona is a fitting backdrop and well represented, as we see Cassandra running around, following cabs, chasing people, and dealing with her noisy but friendly neighbors.
You won't see stereotypes here, the characters are well fleshed out. It's not much of a script, in my opinion, but Seidelman and the cast make the most of it. Check out Cassandra's foot massage - a funny scene for sure.
Judy Davis plays Cassandra, a translator living in Barcelona. She's approached by a glamorous woman, Frankie (Marcia Gay Harden) and offered money if she can locate her husband. After a few minutes of refusing her, Cassandra agrees to do the job. Frankie hands her a phone number and says she believes it's her husband's, but she needs an address to go with it. Cassandra complies.
Not so fast. Turns out Frankie actually had the address, but she needs to make sure he's still there. She sends Cassandra out with a tiny camera to photograph everyone who comes in and out, after giving Cassandra a description that could fit anyone. Cassandra figures out who Ben is (after hearing his name called) and brings the photos to Frankie, who also identifies Ben from the photo. Ben was in the photo, all right, but he wasn't the guy in the photo.
This is a gender-bender comedy with a remarkably subdued performance by the usually theatrical Davis, and wonderful performances by Marcia Gay Harden, Lili Taylor, and Juliette Lewis. Seidelman obviously likes quirky actresses, and she sure has a few of them here.
Barcelona is a fitting backdrop and well represented, as we see Cassandra running around, following cabs, chasing people, and dealing with her noisy but friendly neighbors.
You won't see stereotypes here, the characters are well fleshed out. It's not much of a script, in my opinion, but Seidelman and the cast make the most of it. Check out Cassandra's foot massage - a funny scene for sure.