Peppermint Frappé
Encyclopedia
Peppermint Frappé is a 1967
Spanish
psychological thriller
directed by Carlos Saura
, starring Geraldine Chaplin
and José Luis López Vázquez
. The story centers on a man who becomes obsessed with the wife of an old friend believing her to be a mysterious drummer that he once fell in love with at a festival. He pursues her only to be rebuffed multiple times.
One afternoon, Julian is invited to the house of the mother of his friend Pablo, where a reunion of the two childhood pals has been arranged. Pablo is a charismatic and sophisticated adventurer who has recently returned from Africa with the unexpected news that he has married a beautiful and carefree young woman named Elena. Pablo hands Julian a drink, his favorite cocktail, peppermint frappe, as the group awaits the entrance of Elena, who is upstairs dressing. The sight of the captivating Elena visibly stuns Julian, as Elena reminds him of a mysterious woman he had seen beating drums during the famous Holy Week ritual in the village of Calanda. She insists that she has never seen him before, nor has she ever been to Calanda. Despite her rebukes, Julian finds himself immediately drawn to Elena's cosmopolitan demeanor.
During the days following their first encounter, Julian becomes increasingly infatuated with Pablo’s bride and finds pretext to spend time with her. While Pablo is busy, Julian takes Elena sightseeing Cuenca
. Despite her indifference to his attentions, Julian’s obsession with Elena does not diminish. Frustrated by his inability to win Elena's affection, Julian turns his attention to his laboratory assistant, Ana, who has secretly pined for Julian. A sexual liaison between the two is soon established. Julian manipulates Ana, coercing her to dress and groom herself like Elena does.
While involved with Ana, Julian continues to pursue the elusive Elena, but she resists his advances with open derision. Julian invites Pablo and Elena to his cottage on the countryside to spend the weekend. He takes them on a tour of the grounds of the abandoned spa where he and Pablo used to play as children.
After a practical joke by Pablo and Elena, aimed at humiliating Julian, Julian begins to plan an elaborate revenge against the couple. Picking up Elena’s curiosity about his relationship with Ana, Julian invites Elena and Pablo to join him and Ana in his country house.
Before Pablo and Elena arrive, Julian places what appears to be poison in a decanter containing peppermint frappe. When Pablo and Elena arrive, Julian tells them that Ana will be a little late and offers them the beverage. After a few sips, the couple begins to ridicule Julian once again. When they succumb to the poison, Julian carries their bodies to their car which he causes to roll off a cliff, giving the appearance that the couple had died in an automobile accident. Returning to his country house, Julian finds Ana now dressed as the woman of Calanda. The film ends as the two embrace.
award at the 18th Berlin International Film Festival
. It was listed to compete at the 1968 Cannes Film Festival
, which was canceled due to the events of May 1968 in France.
-speaking woman to illustrate Spain's suppressed fascination with the "foreign" West as well as repressed desires under the nationalist and isolationist regime of Francisco Franco
. Furthermore the film is an examination of repression and obsession during Franco era Spain. Additionally, the character of Julian's nurse, also played by Chaplin, serves as an interesting example of how a passive feminine character can come to control a more assertive chauvinist by manipulating his desires. In Peppermint Frappé, a single actress and a handful of motifs create a chain of associations whose stylistic sophistication belies the seeming simplicity of the film’s linear plotline. Saura intended for the film to be an homage to his mentor, director Luis Buñuel
, who was from Calanda
.
1967 in film
The year 1967 in film involved some significant events. It is widely considered as one of the most ground-breaking years in film.-Events:* December 26 - The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour airs on British television....
Spanish
Cinema of Spain
The art of motion-picture making within the nation of Spain or by Spanish filmmakers abroad is collectively known as Spanish Cinema.In recent years, Spanish cinema has achieved high marks of recognition as a result of its creative and technical excellence...
psychological thriller
Psychological thriller
Psychological thriller is a specific sub-genre of the broad ranged thriller with heavy focus on characters. However, it often incorporates elements from the mystery and drama genre, along with the typical traits of the thriller genre...
directed by Carlos Saura
Carlos Saura
Carlos Saura Atarés is a Spanish film director and photographer.-Early life:Born into a family of artists , he developed his artistic sense in childhood as a photography enthusiast.He obtained his directing diploma in Madrid in 1957 at the Institute of Cinema Research and Studies...
, starring Geraldine Chaplin
Geraldine Chaplin
Geraldine Leigh Chaplin is an English-American actress and the daughter of Charlie Chaplin.Chaplin first came to prominence for her Golden Globe-nominated role of Tonya in David Lean's Doctor Zhivago . She received her second Golden Globe nomination for Robert Altman's Nashville...
and José Luis López Vázquez
José Luis López Vázquez
José Luis López Vázquez de la Torre was a Spanish actor. -Career:López Vázquez was born in Madrid. He originally worked in theater as a costume designer, a scenic designer, and as an assistant director to Pío Ballesteros and Enrique Herreros. In 1946, he switched over to film, with a small role in...
. The story centers on a man who becomes obsessed with the wife of an old friend believing her to be a mysterious drummer that he once fell in love with at a festival. He pursues her only to be rebuffed multiple times.
Plot
A pair of hands meticulously crops images from a fashion magazine for a personal scrapbook. The hands belong to an unassuming and conservative physician named Julian. He runs a radiology clinic from his personal residence, assisted by a shy, mild mannered nurse named Ana.One afternoon, Julian is invited to the house of the mother of his friend Pablo, where a reunion of the two childhood pals has been arranged. Pablo is a charismatic and sophisticated adventurer who has recently returned from Africa with the unexpected news that he has married a beautiful and carefree young woman named Elena. Pablo hands Julian a drink, his favorite cocktail, peppermint frappe, as the group awaits the entrance of Elena, who is upstairs dressing. The sight of the captivating Elena visibly stuns Julian, as Elena reminds him of a mysterious woman he had seen beating drums during the famous Holy Week ritual in the village of Calanda. She insists that she has never seen him before, nor has she ever been to Calanda. Despite her rebukes, Julian finds himself immediately drawn to Elena's cosmopolitan demeanor.
During the days following their first encounter, Julian becomes increasingly infatuated with Pablo’s bride and finds pretext to spend time with her. While Pablo is busy, Julian takes Elena sightseeing Cuenca
Cuenca, Spain
-History:When the Iberian peninsula was part of the Roman Empire there were several important settlements in the province, such as Segóbriga, Ercávica and Gran Valeria...
. Despite her indifference to his attentions, Julian’s obsession with Elena does not diminish. Frustrated by his inability to win Elena's affection, Julian turns his attention to his laboratory assistant, Ana, who has secretly pined for Julian. A sexual liaison between the two is soon established. Julian manipulates Ana, coercing her to dress and groom herself like Elena does.
While involved with Ana, Julian continues to pursue the elusive Elena, but she resists his advances with open derision. Julian invites Pablo and Elena to his cottage on the countryside to spend the weekend. He takes them on a tour of the grounds of the abandoned spa where he and Pablo used to play as children.
After a practical joke by Pablo and Elena, aimed at humiliating Julian, Julian begins to plan an elaborate revenge against the couple. Picking up Elena’s curiosity about his relationship with Ana, Julian invites Elena and Pablo to join him and Ana in his country house.
Before Pablo and Elena arrive, Julian places what appears to be poison in a decanter containing peppermint frappe. When Pablo and Elena arrive, Julian tells them that Ana will be a little late and offers them the beverage. After a few sips, the couple begins to ridicule Julian once again. When they succumb to the poison, Julian carries their bodies to their car which he causes to roll off a cliff, giving the appearance that the couple had died in an automobile accident. Returning to his country house, Julian finds Ana now dressed as the woman of Calanda. The film ends as the two embrace.
Cast
- Geraldine ChaplinGeraldine ChaplinGeraldine Leigh Chaplin is an English-American actress and the daughter of Charlie Chaplin.Chaplin first came to prominence for her Golden Globe-nominated role of Tonya in David Lean's Doctor Zhivago . She received her second Golden Globe nomination for Robert Altman's Nashville...
– Elena/ Ana/ Woman of Calanda - José Luis López VázquezJosé Luis López VázquezJosé Luis López Vázquez de la Torre was a Spanish actor. -Career:López Vázquez was born in Madrid. He originally worked in theater as a costume designer, a scenic designer, and as an assistant director to Pío Ballesteros and Enrique Herreros. In 1946, he switched over to film, with a small role in...
- Julián - Alfredo MayoAlfredo MayoAlfredo Mayo was a Spanish actor.- Biography :After leaving his studies of medicine in 1929, Mayo debuts at theatre with the company of Ernesto Vilches...
- Pablo - Ana Maria Custodio – Pablo’s mother
- Emiliano Redondo - Arturo
- Fernando Sánchez PolackFernando Sánchez PolackFernando Sánchez Polack was a Spanish actor. He appeared in 113 films and television shows between 1959 and 1982...
- patient
Reception
The film was Saura first significant commercial success. Peppermint Frappé won the Silver Bear for Best DirectorSilver Bear for Best Director
The Silver Bear for Best Director is the Berlin International Film Festival's award for best achievement in direction.-Awards:-Repeated winners:*Mario Monicelli *Satyajit Ray *Carlos Saura -External links:*...
award at the 18th Berlin International Film Festival
18th Berlin International Film Festival
The 18th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from June 21 to July 2, 1968.-Jury:* Luis García Berlanga * Peter Schamoni* Alex Viany* Georges de Beauregard* Alexander Walker* Domenico Meccoli* Carl-Eric Nordberg...
. It was listed to compete at the 1968 Cannes Film Festival
1968 Cannes Film Festival
The 21st Cannes Film Festival was held on May 10 - 24, 1968, before being cancelled due to the turmoil of May 1968 in France.Peter Lennon's documentary Rocky Road To Dublin was to be the final film screened at the festival...
, which was canceled due to the events of May 1968 in France.
Analysis
The film uses Julian's obsession with the blonde, EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
-speaking woman to illustrate Spain's suppressed fascination with the "foreign" West as well as repressed desires under the nationalist and isolationist regime of Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
. Furthermore the film is an examination of repression and obsession during Franco era Spain. Additionally, the character of Julian's nurse, also played by Chaplin, serves as an interesting example of how a passive feminine character can come to control a more assertive chauvinist by manipulating his desires. In Peppermint Frappé, a single actress and a handful of motifs create a chain of associations whose stylistic sophistication belies the seeming simplicity of the film’s linear plotline. Saura intended for the film to be an homage to his mentor, director Luis Buñuel
Luis Buñuel
Luis Buñuel Portolés was a Spanish-born filmmaker — later a naturalized citizen of Mexico — who worked in Spain, Mexico, France and the US..-Early years:...
, who was from Calanda
Calanda
Calanda is a town in the province of Teruel, in Aragon, Spain. It lies on the southern fringe of the Ebro river basin, at the confluence of the Guadalope and Guadalopillo rivers....
.