Sex and Lucia (Unrated Edition) Reviews

• Erotic Drama w/excellent acting and grasping plot

  
  By ASHH1AFHTJZ0Q on 2003-06-13
  The first time I saw Sex and Lucia I was a bit shocked. I had never seen a film so sexually explicit (it even shows two erections, oral sex, and masturbation!). I couldn't watch it, it was too porn. Then I rented it a secong time and I sat through the whole movie. Boy was I dead wrong!! What an excellent movie! It has a very good plot with twists and all, great pacing (considering some spanish films are really long, slow and sometimes boring and plotless), breathtaking cinematography, excellent actors and creative erotism. I was so pleased with the movie that I decided to buy it. If you're too close minded and offended by explicit nudity then this movie is not for you. For other seeking movies outside the Hollywood Special Effects w/no plot-or-good-actors-whatsoever-movies this one is really worth it!
  
  

• Rewarding all the Senses

  
  By A328S9RN3U5M68 on 2003-03-29
  SEX AND LUCIA is a wonder. Not since the amazing films of Alain Renais has there been a film so emersed in physical beauty, in bewildering undertones, in challenging paths for the viewer to let go of the world as we see it and discover places and feelings once the sole territory of the Surrealists. This magical movie resembles Renais' LAST YEAR AT MARIENBAD but it is in color, is much more advanced in its sexuality, and fleshes out its story with more profound philosophical views. The cast is very fine without focusing on well known actors (in this country at least) to provide a prejudged concept of the characters examined. The women and men are beautiful, senusous, and vulnerable. And aside from the dual presentation of a love and passion tale, this movie addresses our perception of memory, of passion altering how we walk through life, and of the consequences of the decisions we make. A stunning film.
  
  

• WOW

  
  By on 2003-06-10
  Sex and Lucia - (2001)

  Review By - Chad Peter

  Film Rating: ****

  DVD Rating: ****

  Directed By - Julio Medem
  Written By - Julio Medem

  Starring - Paz Vega, Tristán Ulloa, Najwa Nimri
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  Film Review

  Wow.

  This is an instance of not knowing exactly what to think about the overarching feel of a film. Sex and Lucia was a refreshing step in many directions all at once, and quite possibly all of them heading in every direction but south. Sexuality is revitalized, alternate universes are intertwined, and cinematography is quite visionary all at once. This is not an American film and this is not a porno. There are on screen handjobs and sexuality that an American audience would never expect to see come out of a Hollywood film, or even an American Independent film for that matter -- and yet here it has been done in an amazingly striking way -- very lucid and artfully erotic.

  Drawing from the experience of a single viewing, I can say one thing: The story may not be entirely understood in one sitting. Sex and Lucia is something that will need to be seen again, at least once, to fully understand the linear plotline. And yet, we don't particularly need the linear plotline because we understand enough of it to know the bare bones of what is going on -- and more importantly we can easily connect to the train of emotions and follow along that way. Simply trying to disect the film down into a "what happens in what order" line will leave a viewer frustrated, and most definitely this was not how the film was intended to be on a visual level. The images are quite stunning and transcendental at times, leaving a flow to the movie not unlike the film's opening visuals set under the sea -- without these images, the film would be dank and stale, and yet with the images, the film is transformed into something rather awe-inspiring and visually astounding.

  Sex and Lucia is the story of a writer's story inside a story, or so I think. There are many overlapping discontinuities jumping around through time and space, from alternate universe into reality and so on and so forth. We know that many of these alternate realities could be false in comparison to reality, and yet they are based on reality, so we aren't quite sure what's real and what is false. Fortunately, it isn't the storyline we're emersed in so much as we're emersed in the beauty of what's occuring before our very eyes. The sexuality presented in this serious fashion is something we've never seen on screen (to my knowledge), certainly not at this quality. By watching this, I wasn't sure to believe that somehow as humans we are beginning to reach the next plateau of sexuality, or rather that only a small group is reaching this plateau while the rest of humanity casts them out of the loop. This raises several social questions, especially in our undersexed American population, which teases its audiences but denies them the things that they naturally should be seeing without thinking it as perverse. Perhaps one day we'll all reach that higher plateau of sexuality, but as of now, I foresee nothing more than further supression leading into violence and other unnatural problems.

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  DVD Review

  The DVD's video quality is absolutely astounding because there was no transfer involved. Much to my surprise, Sex and Lucia was not shot on film, but rather it was shot on HD 24P (Video). At the beginning there were moments where the characters movements looked like video, and yet at the same time, I was thinking "there's no way this couldn't be film" because of the lushness of the colors and the depth of the images. For all those who claim film is the first and will always be the foremost of visual quality, this should act as a slap in the face, and as a precursor step to the next level of visual photography. The result here is really quite beautiful to watch.

  Sex and Lucia's soundtrack is wonderfully timed and choreographed throughout the story. The beauty of shooting on video, is that it allows for MORE footage to be shot, equally allowing for more flexibility in the editing room, and ultimately more creativity is allowed when meshing images with music and sound. There is something illuminary about this soundtrack and score, and it is well represented by the disc's dolby 5.1 track.

  This is the kind of DVD disc that we wish every DVD was like. The only thing missing is a director's commentary track -- but since the director is Spanish and may not even speak english, we'll cut him some slack. Where the special features make up for the loss however, is with the multitude of other included features, including a fairly insightful "Making-Of" documentary, and several cast & crew interviews. Also crammed onto this disc are cast & crew biographies, trailers (for this and other films), a large photo gallery, soundtrack info & excerpts, and web links. Now if only more DVDs were this jam-packed with stuff.

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  DVD & Film Info

  Studio Distributor(s) - Canal+ España, Palm Pictures, et al.

  Theater Release Date - (08/24/2001)
  DVD Release Date - (03-25-2003) - Region 1

  Release Price - $24.99 US.

  Film Length - 128 Minutes
  Rating - Not Rated. Includes sexual content not usually seen outside of porno films in American.
  Initial Country of Release - Spain
  Initial Language of Release - Spanish
  Alternate Version - "R" Rated Version, runs two minutes shorter than the Unrated version, and probably ruins the film's sexual tone greatly.

  DVD Features - The Making of Sex and Lucia Featurette, Photo Gallery, Soundtrack Excerpts, Cast Interviews, Cast Biographies, Theatrical Trailers, Palm Pictures Previews, Web Links.

  Video - Widescreen 1.85:1 Color

  Audio - SPANISH: Dolby Digital 5.1, SPANISH: Dolby Digital Stereo

  Subtitles - English, French

  Additional Film and/or DVD Notes - Sex and Lucia is a visionary look into a more natural world.

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  3 Similar Films -
  Y Tu Mama Tambien
  Tacones lejanos
  La Double vie de Véronique
  
  

• Wonderfully Hypnotic

  
  By AYG1U47VFZ165 on 2003-05-23
  SEX AND LUCIA is an absolutely brilliant blend of sex and story, of plot and circumstance, of reality and the art of crafting fiction around it. The film mesmerizes in its wonderfully poignant and wild portrayal of unabashedly adult sex while equally balanced with mature themes surrounding the human condition exploring life and liveliness ... and I've never seen anything quite like it before.

  Sumptuously photographed on tropical islands not overloaded with lush foliage, SEX AND LUCIA vacillates between several storylines -- all uniquely intertwined by Lucia's exploration to find happiness and Lorenzo's quest to understand the life hidden behind the art of his writing. The two meet under terrifically charged circumstances, and their lives together reach a feverish intimate crescendo.

  However, Lorenzo begins to fathom the consequences of the life he's led, leading him on a quest to understand who he is and how he could possibly have reached a new low in his life. Happiness thwarts his talents, and, instead, he allows the moments of human weakness he's experienced to drive him as emotionally low as a human being can possibly slip ... to the brink of death.

  In the meantime, Lucia flees, unable to cope with the reality of Lorenzo's possible fate, and inadvertantly discovers that the life she's been leading is secretly intertwined with others, much in the way good novels unfold.

  Note quite a "date movie" (though I'm sure it might serve some inspiration), SEX AND LUCIA is intended for adult audiences.
  
  

• A WONDERFUL film

  
  By A3IAP2JMTP5YBN on 2004-03-21
  Sex And Lucia is one of the best films I've seen in recent memory, and I have seen MANY movies in recent memory. It is a pleasure these days to have a film so fully realized,so organically acted,and so beautifully woven together through a series of loose ends to come to a glorious,and emotional finale.As if that weren't enough,the film is also simply gorgeous to look at, and offers absolutely scrumptious natural images.
  And it was almost shocking to see sex portrayed in such a natural,tender light.If you're hoping for a soft core porn movie with little plot involved, I couldn't recommend anything less.Sex in this film is used not to fulfill the viewer's libido, but to paint a picture of a blossoming,loving relationshop between two people.But I think the title is misleading and the trailer for this film was misleading because this film is not about sex.Yes, there is a plentiful amount of it(which would only be a shock to us sexually sheltered Americans), but this film is honestly not about sex.What is it about?It's about people, and coincidence,and circumstance,love,depression,heartache,betrayal- sex is just a factor in the film but not a subject.This is an absolutely wonderful film, which moves at a slow pace, but is fully rewarding at the end.Sex and Lucia is a film that I would recommend to ANY person on the planet who loves great films.Well, you're in for a treat because this one is remarkable.
  
  
• What a hypnotic movie experience. A must see for adults.
  By A33TRNCQK4IUO7 on 2004-01-22
  Although there is a lot of sex in this story and there is a woman named Lucia, the title and marketing campaign are somewhat misleading as it's less about sex of sexual liberation than it is about life, possibilities, dreams, and almost any topic under the sun.

  In a nutshell, I simply loved everything about this movie and it is one of the best movies that I've ever seen. I won't give much away as I hate it when reviewers/previews tell you what you should be seeing first-hand.

  I can say that the movie unfolds beautifully like a great fairy-tale/dream sequence/life experience and that the specifics of the plot and circumstance are less important than every single character in the movie. The performances are stellar, the direction is as good as I've seen, the music is beautiful, the cinematography is innovative and better than I've ever seen, and (unlike almost every single movie) I had no idea where the movie was heading.

  The movie opens with one of the most romantic and beautiful scenes in movie history and it does not let you go until the final frame. I won't spoil some of the poetic images that you'll encounter, but trust me you'll want to see this movie again just to experience it visually.

  This is without a doubt a movie for adults and not solely because of the explicitness of the sex but because the themes are for mature audiences. As I watched this movie, I kept asking myself how Hollywood would have botched up this movie as there are very few movies for adults and even fewer that are this compelling with out being pretentious.

  I've recently began watching more Spanish speaking movies and I am surprised by the how movies from Spain and recently Mexico and Argentina are kicking Hollywood's butt, not only due to content but in looking like a million bucks without spending them.

  I just saw this movie and I can't wait to see it again. Keep in mind that the sex is very explicit and although I said it's an adult movie, I'd recommend seeing it with people from your own generation. In other words, I would not see this movie with my parents, although I would highly recommend it to them.
  
  

• Excelente!
  By A2PUYMR4W89GUY on 2003-03-26
  Ok. To start things off, I will say that "Sex and Lucia" is VERY deserving of its unrated rating - a lot of the scenes in the film look as though they deserve to be in a x-rated flick. However, there is one thing that separates this film from an x-rated one: a good story.

  A lot of films (especially foreign ones) that have a lot of sexually-explicit material in them seem to use the sex to sell the film; they might as well just say in the trailers, "Look at us! We're being risque! We dare you to watch this and not blush! Wanna see an adult film, but are too embarrassed to? Come see this instead!" But "Sex and Lucia", or in its native Spanish language "Lucia y el Sexo", is nothing like that. Yes there are many scenes that could make one blush, and yes most of those scenes are gratuitous. But what saves this film from being like all the rest is the fact that the plot is interesting. And at about half-way through when I thought I maybe knew what would happen in the end, I was proved wrong when I finished the whole movie - and was pleasantly surprised.

  Lucia is a young woman who falls in love with a writer named Lorenzo. She tells him she loves him about two minutes after introducing herself. The two move in together, and what follows are the above-mentioned blush-worthy scenes. But once the film gets past all the racy stuff, what lies beneath is really a great love story, that has some tragedy thrown in for good measure.

  The film is more than two hours, but I didn't even notice - there were really no boring parts that I can remember. A soundtrack plays softly in the background, and even though you barely notice it, you are very aware of it and it sets the mood for the film. The location where a lot of the film was shot (in the scenes on the island) is beautiful and at times distracts you from the actors. And speaking of the actors, they all did a top-notch job. Now, I have seen a lot of foreign films, but this is one of the best. "The Piano Teacher" is another provocative unrated foreign film, but that one left me frustrated and depressed. By the end of "Sex and Lucia", I had a smile on my face. I think the ending will be a little surprising to some people, because it was not at all what I was expecting - it was perfect. I just rented it and watched it today, but I will definitely be purchasing it. I recommend this film to anyone who loves a good story, who doesn't mind subtitles and, oh yeah, someone who doesn't blush so easily.
  
  

• not enough stars for this one !
  By on 2003-05-01
  An amazing film... lush & beautifully filmed, so much more to this movie than just "sex"... yes, there are one or two graphic moments (extreme only to us repressed americans)... but there is so much here to bask in-- beautiful mediterranean locations, a complex & wonderfully structured story, great performances -- i could go on & on... it simply reminds me of all that a film can be, and as all great film, it demands repeated viewing... the director tackles so many themes & successfully guides us through the catharsis... this is truly one of my favorite foreign films of all time -- DVD presentation is beautiful, 2.35 widescreen & a good DD 5.1 soundtrack, highly recommended -- don't listen to the uptight fools who call it "soft porn"-- if you think it's a sex movie, you missed it completely
  
  
• watching this for your first time, should be alone...
  By A2R8646H5KZU6O on 2004-01-13
  suspense and wonderment...the thing about this film is that you have to pay attention and have an open mind. if a predictable film is what you want this is not at all for you. the way the story of the island is told makes you want to follow the rabbit just like alice did in that childhood fantasy years ago... and start from the middle again.... this film has absolutely nothing to do with alice, just a metaphoric babble moment...
  sensuality, memory, love, dreams, photography, art, romance, intercorse, penitration{in more ways than any other film i've ever seen on the shelves of blockbuster before} ,twists and turns, i could not even get up to pee, this is a fantastic film. the soundtrack is awesome as well. the actors played their characters so well that it could have been a silent film...you get the message...this has to b e one of the most beautiful foreign films that i have watched in a very long time...eyecandy!!!!!!!!!!!!
  
  
• Hot Spanish
  By A2HJB9J5O5CLPB on 2004-10-23
  This is a European film, namely part of the new Spanish Moderns for lack of a better way to explain how Spanish Directors and actors are pushing the envelope Europa style. This one reminded me of L'Avventura by director Michelangelo Antonioni, 1960. The desolate islands of the Mediterainian are beautiful, sun bleached, and scary.
  
  Also, this film has its [hot] moments. (...) One wonders what actors and actresses are willing to do on screen and remain legitimate. And what's wrong with that?
  
  This is not a John Wayne movie. There's enough here for a couple to get kind of kinky in the television light. Lucinda's boyfriend has a one-night stand on a romantic island. Never sees her again. She has a child.
  
  Paz Vega of the dark hair and eyes loves boyfriend's novels. They fall in love and do those positions. He eventually finds out about his little daughter and almost has sex with the hot babysitter who has a porn queen mom. Something of an incestuous fantasy or episode drives the boyfriend to suicide. The babysitter either commits suicide or is murdered. We're not sure because at this point the boyfriend is writing a novel about all this and we're not sure what is reality or fantasy. Lucinda thinks her boyfriend has died and she goes to the island to pull herself together. There she meets... oh forget about it. The film's a half hour too long full of long takes on the ocean, but for aficionados or [hot] dudes and gals, this one is for you.
  
  
  
• Tender, profound and beautiful
  By A2LQZLGJ1KQ9EQ on 2003-09-27
  Spain produces, from time to time, real masterpieces. Sex and Lucia (the title could be a better one)blends an astonishing puzzle of love, flesh, scenery, drama, real live, tenderness, music, departure and re-encounter which will glue you to the screen from the beginning to the end.
  Should the movie be American, Lucia (Paz Vega) would have been awarded (or would deserve) an Oscar.
  A beautiful actress, an amazing interpretation...Lorenzo completes the sweet drama through a remarkable performance and, together with Lucia, brings you so close to real life that I remained impressed by the film for days.
  A collector's jewel. No doubt about it. A Must see!
  By the way: sex hype has nothing to do with it. Love was so tender that became embedded in the story. Just beautiful!
  
  
• A fairy tale for adults
  By A379FTDQT1NKSN on 2005-07-02
  This is a complex film with bits of drama, eroticism, fantasy, and the quest built in. Moreover, time, place, person, and even identity shift throughout the film, preventing the viewer from establishing a sense of grounding. The film itself is much like the island in the story: it is full of holes and caves that connect back, but ultimately nothing connects to the "reality" of Earth. Intellectually, it is playful and enjoyable.
  
  One aspect of this film is its visual impact. Many of the scenes of the island are absolutely gorgeous, reinforcing the idea that there is something magical about it. This is also a film full of "beautiful people" in that the people who fill the screen are carefully chosen - never old, fat, or ugly. However, the scenes also tend to be quiet and personal, without crowds, large landscapes, or superfluous details. Visually, it is a treat.
  
  As for the plot, there is a bit of a David Lynch, modern surrealist feel to much of it. We are introduced to Lucia in the midst of tragedy: after she fights with her boyfriend, Lorenzo, he is involved in an accident. The rest of the film alternates between a history leading to the fight and Lucia's attempts to recover from her loss. The magic here is how writer/director Julio Medem presents the interwoven threads.
  
  The island plays a central role in both Lorenzo's history and Lucia's future. In the midst of the intertwined stories we learn about the island, Elena (a woman who unexpectedly ties Lucia and Lorenzo together), and Luna (Elena and Lorenzo's daughter). The latter provides the catalyst for Lorenzo's descent as he becomes obsessed with her, her sitter (Belén), and the tragedy that claims her. The story of Belén, in turn, provides a series of twists and characters that lead back to Lucia and the island. Emphasis is placed on twists, as characters "become" and parallel each other in just-shy-of-confusing fashion. The effect of this undermines the viewer's confidence in the reality of what occurs (both in the history and on the island). It also provides a fairy-tale feel to the film.
  
  One other aspect of this film worth noting is the "Sex" half of the title. Sexy scenes aboud, particularly in the first portion of film, and some of these are fairly explicit, but after awhile they really don't seem to add anything to the film. That isn't to say that they are simply there as gratuitous eroticism, but that the "Lucia" portion of the film could quite easily stand on its own without them. Only a few, such as the moonlight conception scene, really seem tightly coupled to the story, whereas others verge on beating a dead horse. Frankly, I feel that better integration here would have made this a stellar film.
  
  Overall, this is an excellent film, with great writing, fantastic photography, and engaging acting. If you enjoy modern fairy tales such as Amelie, the surrealism of directors such as David Lynch, or the personal feel of films such as Michael Radford's Il Postino, then this is a highly recommended film.
  
  
• how do you say "blah blah blah" in Spanish?
  By A2C27IQUH9N1Z on 2003-12-17
  Lucia has read and re-read a writer's work so often and so passionately that she grows to love him. She follows him and ultimately confronts him with her devotion and asks if he will live with her. He reacts positively to the suggestion and things go swimmingly until the writer is confronted with his past and struggles with a transformative writing experience. Several odd peripheral characters appear and interact with implicit or explicit passion etc etc

  There are some foreign films that gain a US audience because they are heavy on the romance (wink-wink nudge-nudge), and this is one of them. If you want to see attractive foreigners get playful, then this film will meet your expectations. Don't, however, let its being subtitled convince you that this incomprehensible blur of writer's-imagination-cum-time-travel melange is deep. It's just pretty people being fleshy. Not that there's anything wrong with that -- but Kurosawa it ain't.

  DVD extras include short statements by nine cast & crew members, a 25-minute behind-the-scenes featurette, stills, biographies, soundtrack information and trailers. The film is in Spanish with English or French subtitles available.
  
  

• EXPLICIT ROMANCE
  By A3H9JSM1SUTE4O on 2003-04-02
  SEX AND LUCIA is more than a visually stunning, time-shifting tale about a beautiful Spaniard who has throbbing sex. After she loses her boyfriend, Lucia (the luminous Paz Vega), seeks refuge on a quiet Mediterranean island where she meets a new man and discovers surprising secrets about her past relationship.

  Dramatic, romantic, and challenging, this lush Spanish film has been embraced by liberated Europeans and praised for its, ahem, "sensual bravery." By all means get the unrated, uncut edition.

  Recommended.
  
  

• Hang on for a wild erotic ride and a good film too!
  By A3CH1KT8XQE8SA on 2004-09-20
  Unknowingly I watched the unrated version of SEX AND LUCIA and, as a result, was treated with quite a *memorable* movie experience. Don't get me wrong; I'm not adverse to sexual situations at all, I was just a little caught off guard despite the film's title. That being said, I enjoyed this film. The plot itself is quite interesting and admittedly sometimes confusing; there's a myriad of puzzle pieces scattered about that must be put in their proper sequence before there's any hope of making sense out of what's happening. The story is not told in chronological order and, worse yet, there are several plot lines that are intermingled together resulting in a jumbled mess at first glance. Take the time and effort to sort through the chaos and you may be rewarded at the end as I was. Recommended.
  
  
• very intriguing film
  By A3PERVDBNCQJQV on 2002-11-11
  having heard virtually very little information about this film, i decided to give it a try as i love foreign or art films. of all the films i've had the displeasure or pleasure of watching, sex and lucia is by far one of the most intoxicating films i've seen yet in the local multiplex cinema. with a structure and characterization unlike most films, lucia may be a film you will have to watch twice before you can truly digest everything. even then, there is quite a bit to chew on. here we have a thought provoking, totally mysterious, and always seductive atmosphere which pulls us in like a black hole leading us to water. off and on throughout the story, we are reminded that the film can literally change it's course at anytime and completely alter all of our character's destinies within less than a breath. while this MOVIE may be worlds away from being called pornography, i still say the film is more graphic or suggestive than the majority of the films we will see this year including another favorite y tu mama tambien. i'm glad to say however that the acting here and story are so well-drawn that everything seems to click here like the screenwriters had perhaps originally intended. i am not sure though if the lighting and the camera movements are intetional here but that gives the film somewhat of an edge and literally compliments the story within the big picture. rather than shying away from a film like lucia because you don't like subtitles or graphic love scenes, give this incredible piece of film making a try. i will gladly add this one to the growing collection of independent art and foreign films once it arrives on dvd.
  
  
• Unusally brilliant film
  By A3TAH6Z2WC6MM5 on 2006-03-01
  Sex and Lucia is more than just nudity and a weird [carnal] scene. Those were the sole reasons my boyfriend asked me to purchase the movie. He thought it was porn.
  
  The movie is actually a brilliantly written suspense drama. With so many twists and turns I had to watch it twice the first time. Everytime I watch it I see something different.
  
  Paz Vega is a great actress that lights up the screen everytime she is in the frame. I film well worth viewing.
  
  
• Allow yourself time for seduction
  By AFEWYHL1HZRK on 2004-02-07
  I have two recommendations regarding this movie (aside from seeing it, of course): watch the unrated version, and watch it alone. The story is complicated and the manner in which it is revealed requires concentration by the viewer for full appreciation. True, the sex is explicit - but if you're an adult with any sexual experience you should be able to accept it as nothing short of compellingly authentic. If you were to watch this movie for the first time with someone else, you may not be able to get past the visual shock of seeing an erection (or the embarassment of getting one yourself!).

  The story is stylistically original and profoundly touching, the cinematography is stunning (thanks to the Sony HD camera), and the actors (and acting) are beautiful. You will be seduced in every regard!

  I was so moved by this film that I have decided to take up Spanish again, which I've barely touched since high school, except this time it will be European as opposed to Mexican Spanish. Also, I'm now planning to include a trip to Spain as part of a previously arranged trip to the U.K.!
  
  

• Convoluted storyline, but three good female leads
  By A2QHM5HBSIXRL4 on 2005-05-19
  Spanish directors seem to be caught up in the act of trying to out-Almodóvar Pedro Almodóvar. Julio Medem's "Sex and Lucia" is a prime example. It's flowing to the brim with so much convoluted magic realism that it makes the picture a struggle to follow (and, no, it has nothing to do with the language barrier).
  
  That's unfortunate, because there are some great performances here, most notably by the three female leads: Paz Vega (you'll see how watered-down her role was in the horrible 'Spanglish'); Najwa Nimri (Spanish film fans will remember her as the femme fatale in 'Open your Eyes' - Cameron Diaz's role in 'Eyes' remake 'Vanilla Sky'); and Elena Anaya (who steals the movie here in the smaller role of Belén...Medem must have had a similar feeling because the movie was marketed in Spain with the eye-catching credit "...and Elena Anaya as Belén").
  
  Also, there's something to say about the title, which definitely loses something in the translation: the original title is 'Lucía y el Sexo' - and there's an important distinction in the order and meaning of that specific word arrangement which is presented backwards in the US release. Medem explains that he was working on two scripts, one called 'Lucia,' the other 'The Sex.' He then had the flash of insight that he ought to mash the two scripts together, a la Lennon and McCartney on 'A Day in the Life.' You see this merger depicted in the film. We're presented with a vignette called 'Lucia.' Subsequently, we're shown a second tale called 'El Sexo.' These are dramatically different tales. Medem then spends the rest of the film drawing a line (albeit, not a very straight one) between the two happenings.
  
  
• Just like all great erotic literaure
  By A2FBIF1FKBC193 on 2004-04-17
  this movie does require the viewer to pay attention so that you do not get lost in a somewhat complex little story.

  I really did have to restart to DVD since it kind of jumps at you from the get go as the director flashes from the present to the past without warning. If you enjoy books along the Black Lace line of erotica then this definitely is the DVD for you. Our waitress heroine. Lucia, knows what she wants and is willing to work for it even though the man she loves is a suicidal writer on the verge of imploding.

  As an added bonus the cinematography and acting of course are stupendous, the sex is not gratuitous and clearly provides the motivation of the story. But, again be forewarned you have to pay attention to the story and watch it to the end to enjoy the full art of this great erotic masterpiece.
  
  

• An amazing movie
  By A1HYT4JKUZUB93 on 2004-06-11
  I guess people are molded by holywood standards and talk too much about some naked piece of flesh, but this movie is so much more than that. Relax and watch the movie and you'll enjoy it and if you have time to see the extras on the DVD you'll understand even better why it is so special. The plot, the actors, the camera and the music score are absolutely amazing. It's like drinking coffee at work (in US) for years and than you go somewhere overseas, in Italy or Spain and suddenly realize that coffee is so much more than some dirty brown water. You might not like it, but you'll have to accept that the real thing is great. Somewhere in this world some people think of acting and movies as a form of art, not just a money machine.
  
  
• What's not to like?
  By AT6CZDCP4TRGA on 2005-01-11
  Paz Vega is the most gorgeous woman seen on film in ages (imagine a taller, more curvaceous, and even more sexual Penelope Cruz), and this film knows it: her intoxicating face and body fill the screen at every opportunity and in many glorious stages of undress. Now THAT is a true goddess, fit to make all the generic makeup-addicted peroxide-blondes in Hollywood weep with envy and despair!
  
  The plotline is a bit convoluted, like many post-Tarantino films these days the story is not presented in linear fashion but in bits and pieces which the viewer has to put together himself. It's not quite as distracting and confusing as it was in "21 Grams" because the story here is fairly simple. The plot also requires a fair amount of belief suspension: it's a bit much for us to believe that such a stunning juicy tamale like Paz would out of nowhere throw herself upon the nerdy writer-protagonist, but if you've ever been a nerdy writer type yourself I suppose that's a gratifying fantasy, hee hee.
  
  Where "Sex and Lucia" triumphs is in its sheer physical beauty and sensual richness. Few movies provide so much visual pleasure, and not only in the generous sex scenes but just overall, you really FEEL that "yes this is definitely a Spanish movie shot in Spain." You would never mistake this for some cheesy sterile Hollywood set. The whole spirit of the film is one of divine hedonistic abandon, the kind of guilt- and hangup-free vibe that American and British cinema still struggles to come up with, and something that the Spanish and Italians seem to have a monopoly on.
  
  My only wish is that it had been shot on normal film instead of digital, because many of the exterior shots in bright sunlight are overexposed and washed out.
  
  God bless Paz Vega a thousand times, may she live forever! Who needs Viagra with her around? As Tom Waits once put it, "she can make a dead man come."
  
  
• Sensual feast for the Eyes....
  By A3JCW6YA3C6Z6S on 2003-05-07
  Julio Medem's Sex and Lucia shares a desire for the ethereal with the director's earlier film, Lovers of the Arctic Circle. While Lovers of the Arctic Circle seemed to be saying that we are all subjects to our own personal fate, and that its sometimes comic, sometimes tragic but always futile to fight this, Sex and Lucia seems to imply that there are always second chances in life.
  Sex and Lucia's plot is rather complex in that it moves forward and back in time, and in fact one of the main characters is a writer and at some point the plot is unclear whether the film is reality or just the writer's vision... Lucia loves the writer Lorenzo, who may have a daughter with another woman, Elena. Lorenzo attempts to meet his daughter, but in the process starts a relationship with the girl's nanny... eventually, Lucia ends up on an island with Elena and the nanny's lover. The island itself is a dreamlike place, shot in bright, bleached out colors, and seems to be removed from life and reality itself. Its a place where people are reunited, and have a chance to join their stories in the middle again: a place of second chances.

  I apologize if I'm being incredibly vague: this film itself is full of metaphors and symbolism. Medem repeats certain themes, like being drawn to the sun and the moon, repeatedly. Its a hard film to describe, but perhaps an easy film to recommend if you approach it with an open mind. Regarding the explicit sex in the unrated version, there are perhaps three scenes that surpass what you would otherwise see in a very explicit R-rated film, and they are all well done. There's some full frontal nudity but it never seems out of place, and flows naturally with the film. Honestly, if this type of thing offends you then probably even the R-rated version is not the correct film for you. Otherwise, watch the film with an open mind and be prepared to be stimulated a little in more than a physical sense.
  
  

• Provacative And Daring
  By A1YQ6QB2127AJ4 on 2003-12-19
  "Sex And Lucia" is the perfect movie for those looking for something daring and sexual. However, this movie is more than sexually provacative imagery, this has a highly complex plot. It combines drama, romance, and erotica. Numerous storylines combine as one movie to keep the audience guessing. Its depth offers great heart and soul. "Sex And Lucia" is highly daring and earns the producers tremendous respect for doing what few others have done. Such emotional value allows the actors to express their characters with heavier heart and soul. They perform brilliantly. The chemistry is present between the characters in every love scene.

  "Sex And Lucia" is a great spanish import. This will keep many entertained for a long time. Those interested in this movie should watch the unrated version, not the R-rated. The R-rated version takes away much of the emotional aspect and the erotic effects, which is not what the producers intended. Those looking for further provocative and daring experience should also watch "Y Tu Mama Tambien", the unrated version. The two movies combined should spice up a night.
  
  

• Sexy, playful, complex, accessible, moving
  By A2EBLL2OYEQJN9 on 2005-09-05
  An overwhelmingly beautiful movie, Sex and Lucia has a fairly straightfoward plot, but the non-linear way it is told makes it pure magic. If some details confuse you (as they did me), there are plenty of explanations on internet message boards to help interpret the film, but overall the film can stand alone as a fantastic tale for the viewer to unravel.
  
  The scenes, the actors, the sets, everything in this movie is gorgeous. There are erotic scenes, but they aren't gratituous, and the camera focuses as much on the skin and the energy and the heat of the moment as much as it does on anything graphic.
  
  Director Medem leaves it to the viewer to sort out fiction and reality. This movie is often mentioned in the same light as Swimming Pool, another foreign erotic film that mixes fiction and reality in the life of a writer. The director of Swimming Pool, however, sets out to purposely confuse and frustrate the viewer, with no resolution to what is "real," while Medem weaves a complex yet playful and likeable story that the viewer can easily get a handle on. For this reason, Sex and Lucia is a far superior (and more enjoyable) film.
  
  
• Intriguing and wonderfully lit film
  By on 2002-09-21
  I've seen this film twice and felt: first that it was a film less about "sex" and more about how "sex" defined the characters and their connections. And second: The cinematography was great. I loved the use of light and the moments shot without dialogue. An interesting story that also allows the audience, at the end of the film, to start again from the middle with a new view on the story.
  
  
• Tries to be too many things to too many people
  By AXK9WUGRUL86Z on 2003-05-15
  There are great erotic scenes in this movie. No question about it. Lucia (Paz Vega) is absolutely gorgeous. Belen (Elena Anaya) is quite pretty too. Boys and girls are all very attractive, and yes, there is full nudity on everybody.
  However, after the first half of the movie, something changes; the erotic/ romantic drama, changes focus, and tries to become a psychological drama/thriller. The change in pace leaves us feeling lost, bewildered, and after a while, somewhat bored.
  If you like the sex scenes, you might as well stop the movie when it gets psychological. If you are into romantic psychodramas, then I guess you need to watch the whole thing.
  
  
• This Should Have Gotten The Attention That Y Tu Mama Got
  By AUO5SZSK6P4CD on 2003-10-04
  This is such a good film. Just amazing. Somewhat shocking, very graphic, very sexual, very adult, and yet never to extreme. The sex is not there to just be sex. Its there to create relationships between characters, and show the various stages of love, sex, and relationships. A truelly great film, and just plain beautiful.
  
  
• A stunning masterpiece of a movie
  By A2YQVH5XGGWBHP on 2006-04-07
  I'm going to keep it short and sweet:
  A complex plot that's easy to follow.
  Beautiful locations.
  Crisp screenwriting.
  Crack acting.
  Sexy.
  Intellectual.
  Warm.
  
  You get the feeling that the actors and crew were transformed by the act of working on this movie.
  
  
• Would have been good, except...
  By A1XX5797TIZT5Q on 2003-04-21
  Sex and Lucia is one-half moving psychological probe into a romance, and one-half attention-deficit cinematic showoff.

  The two leads do a very good job in this film. Paz Vega (Lucia), who looks like a warmer, more resilient Winona Ryder, has an expressive face and also dives into the very explicit sex scenes bravely. The chemistry between her and Tristan Ulloa, as lover Lorenzo, provides the film's emotional center. And the photography is beautiful and expressive, working hand in hand with the music to create a lovely mood against which the romance can play out.

  A shame, then, that the editing pretty much destroys many key scenes. Director Julio Medem seems especially fond of hyperspeed cutting and senseless jump cuts. During Lucia and Lorenzo's first love scene, the lovely delicacy of the actors' physical behaviour is simply destroyed by all the intrusive fast cuts, dehumanizing the actors into a series of film blips. In fact, the fast cutting gave me a bad case of eye fatigue -- like a death-metal soundtrack intruding in on a romantic film. And that's not the only time -- the striptease scene (where Ulloa and Vega's performances are especially endearing) and Lucia's humiliating, disturbing masturbation scene are both badly cut.

  The film is also a little too long for my taste and at a certain point, the high-mindedness of the lovely music and cinematography did become tiring, losing some of the intimacy in favour of heavy-handed poeticizing.
  
  

• Lie With Me
• The Dreamers (Original Uncut NC-17 Version)
• Y Tu Mama Tambien
• 9 songs - Unrated Full Uncut Version
• Romance