The twelve chairs (1962)
The twelve chairs is a Cuban film. It is based on the novel of the same name by Ilya Ilf and Jewgeni Petrow . It is the first film adaptation of the novel, the starting point of which and the names of the characters are based on the original novel, even if the plot takes place in Cuba in modern times.
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | The twelve chairs |
| Original title | Las doce sillas |
| Country of production | Cuba |
| Publishing year | 1962 |
| length | 93 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Tomás Gutiérrez Alea |
| script | Tomás Gutiérrez Alea, Ugo Olive |
| music | Juan Blanco |
| camera | Pablo Martínez |
| cut | Mario González |
| occupation | |
action
The expropriated landowner Hipólito learns from his dying mother-in-law that diamonds are hidden in one of twelve chairs that were in her former manor house. There is now a retirement home in the house. Hipólito meets his former servant Óscar here. Together they go looking for the chairs. The search becomes a race against time, because the mother-in-law's confessor is also after the diamonds. In the search, Óscar's ingenuity soon becomes the dominant part. The search leads to several private households, a hospital and a circus. They find the right chair too late. The jewels hidden in it were discovered by chance and used to build a library.
criticism
“The technical imperfections of the film - Cuban film production is still young - are carried away by the spirited direction and the comedic play of the leading actors. Echoes of the silent film grotesque style and a wide-ranging comedy situation are quite enjoyable. "
"It is a thoroughly amusing film that is well worth seeing, a satire on those parasites who, even after the revolution, would rather live from the money they stole than from their hands."
"In this Cuban flick, the whole thing takes on a clearly critical direction, because under popular rule the treasure hunt of a decrepit rich man and his former servant, who has become a determining personality, is anachronistic and therefore already cheerful."
Individual evidence
- ↑ Masterpieces of Cuban Film. Berlin, 2006
Web links
- The Twelve Chairs in the Internet Movie Database (English)