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UNCONSCIOUS Send This Review to a Friend
It is 1913 Barcelona and the sexual theories of Freud are providing handy touchstones for justifying or mystifying the private lives of psychological professionals and their mates. Such is the basis for the mostly sophisticated Spanish import “Unconscious,” directed by Joaquin Oristrell from a screenplay he co-wrote with Teresa de Pelegrí and Dominic Harari. Much is crowded into the farcical tale, sometimes too much, but there are delightfully amusing moments and satirical ideas, and an entertaining cast going through the assorted frustrations and romps plus an elegant looking production make “Unconscious” largely enjoyable.
Alma (Leonor Watling) is perplexed when her psychiatrist husband León (Alex Brendemühl) hastily runs away because his life is in grave danger. It turns out that he has left behind notes on his treatment of four women for hysteria. Alma, determined to track down her husband and learn why he has fled, seeks help from her brother-in-law Salvador (Luis Tosar) also a psychiatrist. There is interesting byplay between the sisters, Alma and Olivia (Núria Prims). Olivia asks the more liberated Alma about her sex life and wonders whether she has trouble in bed with León. Olivia confides that her husband has a frighteningly large member, which leads to some eyebrow-raising scenes later without our actually seeing the evidence. Alma whispers some sisterly advice on what a woman can do to please a man.
The screenplay sets up a maze of complications that involve a cross-dressing sex party, a brothel, sadomasochism, lesbianism and personal revelations, all connected to wallowing in the new ideas of Freud, who also is depicted in the ever-expanding plot. There are nutty moments, such as when a Doctor Alzheimer can’t remember what he wants to say during a speech. There is even an assassination attempt. Another key character is the obnoxiously authoritative Dr. Mira (Juanjo Puigcorbé), who is head of the hospital with which León and Salador are connected.
The performances and entanglements are likely to keep you interested as you are rewarded with laughs at the observations in this tongue-in-cheek comedy. Although the film could use cutting, it is nonetheless quite clever. A Regent Releasing release.
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