Review of El Calentito (2005) by Panta O — 11 May 2011

This Spanish comedy is about Sara, young lady who is raised in a catholic family and is still a virgin. Trying to understand the "secrets of life" she stumbles her way to the underground nightclub El Calentito, owned by a sassy transsexual. The venue plays host to some of the hottest up-and-coming musical groups including Las Sioux, an all-girl rock band fronted by Carmen, who happens to be a lesbian, and Leo, who is always in some state of undress so her breasts can run free.

It is interesting to mention that all this is happening in the politically conservative climate of the Franco regime, and it wasn't easy time for a club which became a safe haven for all forms of sexual expression: gay, bisexual and try-anything sexual. When their singer leaves, Sara gets invited to perform with Las Sioux and, on the night of her scheduled debut, February 23, 1981, an uprising occurs causing the government to collapse and a thrilling night of wild, uninhibited celebrations explodes...

This was the time of the La Movida movement in Spain from which directors like Almodóvar and music groups like Fangoria found artistic inspiration... No wonder that El Calentito is a raucous, high energy comedy that is out, loud and in your face... some people like that... others don't... I was one of them... but I could not put this movie in average category - it is out there to be remembered!