This period drama has been set in 1931 Spain.
When a young Spanish deserter called Fernando (Jorge Sanz) finds himself hiding from the Civil Guards he uses a Madrid brothel for cover.
Here he meets the elderly painter, Manolo (Fernando Fernán Gómez) who offers him shelter in his country house. On his arrival, he discovers that the old man has four beautiful daughters called Luz (Penélope Cruz), Clara (Miriam Díaz Aroca), Juanito (Gabino Diego) and young Violeta (Ariadna Gil).
While on the premises, the young man naturally notes the beauty of all four of his host's daughters, whom each takes her turn at seducing him.
It's a clever idea is made even more clever by the fact that these sundry beauties are acting on the libertine impulses to which their free-thinking father subscribes in principle but has sheepishly abandoned for love.
Spanish dialogue with English subtitles, this super film was an Academy Award Winner for Best Foreign Language Film in 1994.
Belle Epoque is a Film programme that first aired in 1992 and has been classified a 15 certificate.
