During the Spanish Civil War Adolf Hitler gave crucial aid to Franco’s Nationalist side not only by providing German weapons, supplies and “volunteers”, but also by assisting Franco’s propaganda efforts and cinema industry in areas of Spain of under his control. Those events serve as basis for The Girl of Your Dreams, 1998 Spanish period comedy directed by Fernando Trueba.
The plot is set in 1938, while the war is still raging on. Film director Blas Fontiveros (played by Antonio Resines) doesn’t care about politics, but he would very much like to use any opportunity to leave war-torn country for place which might be a little safer. One such place might be Berlin with its famous UFA studios, so Fontiveros is more than happy to take part in Spanish-German co-production of a musical set in Spain during Napoleon’s invasion. Main force behind the project is German minister of propaganda Joseph Goebbels (played by Johannes Silberschneider). During the production of the film, which would be simultaneously made in German and Spanish language version, it appears that Goebbels is less interested in the project and more in Fontiveros’ main star and protege, beautiful actress Macarena Granada (played by Penelope Cruz). Additional problem for Fontiveros is lack of extras that could convincingly pass for Spanish Gypsies. It is temporarily solved by Gypsy and Jewish prisoners being brought from concentration camps to the studio under SS guard. One of those prisoners is Leo (played by Karel Dobry), Russian who escapes his guards and is being hidden by Macarena who fell in love with him.
Fernando Trueba isn’t among the best known of Spanish directors, although his 1992 period comedy Belle Époque was highly regarded and played important role in making Penelope Cruz into major star. The Girl of Your Dreams divided critics, with American critics complaining about Trueba taking too much inspiration from Classic Hollywood legacy, including 1940s films like Lubitch’s To Be or Not to Be or Curtiz’s Casablanca. On the other hand, Trueba should be commended for its meticulous reconstruction of the period and actually taking inspiration from the works of real Spanish director Florian Rey who made musical in late 1930s Germany and whose wife and main star Imperio Argentina was rumoured to have an affair with Hitler. Trueba also shows great sense of humour – the usual Nazi cliches are well-matched with much broader humour based on culture clash and farcical plot. Penelope Cruz shows great talent for comedy and is helped by the rest of cast. Santiago Segura is very effective as gay costume designer, while Johannes Silberschneider shines in portraying one of the vilest figures of 20th Century history in comical way. Otherwise very good impression is slightly affected by the ending which is becoming more serious than comical and has a too much similarities with Casablanca. However, it is still very funny and entertaining film that gives insight into one of the more interesting episodes of European film history. In 2016 Trueba directed sequel under title The Queen of Spain.
RATING: 7/10 (+++)
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