Jamón Jamón
| Jamón Jamón | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Bigas Luna |
| Produced by | Andrés Vicente Gómez |
| Written by | Cuca Canals Bigas Luna Quim Monzó (Dialogue) |
| Starring |
Penélope Cruz Javier Bardem Jordi Mollà Stefania Sandrelli Anna Galiena Juan Diego Tomás Penco |
| Music by | Nicola Piovani |
| Cinematography | José Luis Alcaine |
| Edited by | Teresa Font |
| Distributed by | United States Academy Entertainment Inc |
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Release date
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Running time
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95 mins |
| Country | Spain |
| Language | Spanish |
Jamón Jamón (Spanish pronunciation: [xaˈmon xaˈmon]; English: Ham, Ham) is a 1992 Spanish comedy/drama film directed by Bigas Luna and starring Javier Bardem, Jordi Mollà and Penélope Cruz in her debut film. It centers on a young woman named Silvia played by Cruz. The film is an allegory for Spain itself and the director engages in word play and pun. It rhapsodises on the juxtaposition of old and new in Spain and many other emotional contrasts such as erotic desire and food.
Silvia, a beautiful girl, sews underwear at an underwear factory owned by José Luis' family and prepares omelettes (tortillas de patatas) for extra income. After missing two periods, Silvia reveals to José that she is pregnant, expecting him to react negatively. However, to Silvia's surprise and delight, José Luis expresses his love for her and desire for her to go through with the pregnancy. He romantically picks up the ring from a soda can he finds on the ground and places it on her finger and tells her they will get married. Despite the apparent monetary worthlessness of this item, Silvia cherishes it and all that it symbolises.
José Luis has a difficult time explaining to his overbearing and conniving mother that he is in love with Silvia and intends to marry her. His mother, Conchita, does not approve and when her husband refuses to help her by intervening, she takes matters into her own hands. She hires Raúl, an underwear model who works for the family business, to seduce Silvia, hoping this will destroy the relationship and prevent the marriage. In spite of several aggressive attempts by Raúl to seduce Silvia, she remains committed to marry José Luis. Raúl however, becomes genuinely infatuated with Silvia while Conchita's lust for Raúl leads her to offer him anything he wants if only he has sex with her. Raúl's choice is a Yamaha FZR600 motorbike so, despite his apparent lack of interest in Conchita, he becomes her lover.
Meanwhile, José Luis's inability to come to a decision about whether to marry Silvia without his mother's approval leads to Silvia's deciding she wants a "real man", one who has gumption. She begins to take interest in Raúl. Conchita does not approve of this relationship either because she wants Raúl for herself. Silvia, in the meantime, starts responding to Raúl's advances. This enrages José Luis, who nearly rapes Silvia and swears to kill Raúl.
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