Gaudi Afternoon

2001 Comedy

An American abroad finds herself falling in with an eccentric group of fellow expatriates in Spain in this comedy. Cassandra (Judy Davis) is a nomadic American who finds herself stranded in Spain, where she's found temporary work translating books into English. However, Cassandra's limited translating skills are not bringing home the bacon, so when she encounters a strange woman named Frankie (Marcia Gay Harden), she's willing to help her find a missing friend for a price. Cassandra soon discovers Frankie isn't a strange woman after all -- she's a man living as a woman in preparation for a future sex change operation. It seems Frankie's significant other, a seriously butch lesbian named Ben (Lili Taylor), has walked out on her and taken their daughter Delilah (Courtney Jines) with her; Frankie wants Cassandra to help her find the two of them. As it turns out, Ben has moved on to new pastures, becoming involved with April (Juliette Lewis), a head-in-the-clouds bohemian, and with the help of wealthy art patron and part-time magician Hamilton Kincaid (Christopher Bowen), Ben, April, and Delilah are happily squatting in a spare wing at La Pedrera, Spain's best-known gallery. As Cassandra tries to persuade Ben to reconcile with Frankie, she gets fast-talked by Hamilton into performing as part of his magic act. Gaudi Afternoon was directed by Susan Seidelman; it was her first dramatic theatrical feature since Cookie in 1989, after spending over a decade making documentaries and television projects. more..

Director: Susan Seidelman

Starring: Judy Davis, Marcia Gay Harden, Lili Taylor, Juliette Lewis, Christopher Bowen

Reviews

  • Silly, childish fun and as relaxing to watch as good American TV fiction -- and with a very similar world view.

    Deborah Young - Variety

    26 April 2013

  • Beautifully photographed and fitfully amusing, Gaudi Afternoon would be an impressive film from a first-timer, but Seidelman is experienced enough to know she should have told the actors not to camp things up so excessively.

    Lou Lumenick - New York Post

    26 April 2013

  • The trumped-up alley-to-plaza intrigue could use more smoke and less mirrors.

    Laura Sinagra - Village Voice

    26 April 2013

  • The offbeat cast and gorgeous Barcelona locations can't quite make up for the thinness of the mystery and forced quirkiness of the characters and their tangled relationships.

    Maitland McDonagh - TV Guide

    26 April 2013

  • The air leaks out of Gaudí Afternoon gradually but steadily, until all we're left with is a limp rag of a balloon.

    Stephanie Zacharek - Salon.com

    26 April 2013

Awards

No awards