Jamon Jamon (1993)

Many of us do not think of ham and sex having any sort connection. But never before will you witness a film that so strategically intertwines the two. The film's director, Bigas Luna does a wonderful job of mixing these two elements together, making many of the scenes quiet hysterical. In one of many strange and awkward scenes, a fight between Jose and Raul erupts, fighting with slabs of ham for Silva's (Penelope Cruz) heart. Even though we are flooded with absurd comedy, sex has to do with everything; it is what drives the film. To many viewers who have never seen a similar Spanish film, Jamon, Jamon will appear pornographic. There is an abundance of skin shown by the actors and actresses, such as the naked bull fight scene. The sex scenes are awkward and comical, throwing our own idea and perception of sex into question. Bigas Luna does not attempt to balancing, romance, sex, food, drama, and comedy. Had he done this we would be confused about our own emotions, leaving us unsure of how to feel. There is certainly a sense of drama in the film, for example when Silva (Penelope Cruz) falls in love with Raul, the man that was hired whisk her away. Instead of the audience feeling emotionally saddened for Silva, Bigas Luna decides to make us laugh, instead of cry. Turning the whole situation into a sex circle with everyone involved.Overall, the film was very entertaining the entire 95 minutes. Anyone (adults) who watches the movie on a literal level will laugh hysterically.

I saw this many years ago and was surprised at how many people liked it. I ventured to watch a few more popular Spanish films of the time but have yet to find something which I enjoy. Bizarre story lines yes, but so utterly pointless.--Spolier-- The part I most enjoyed was the very end of the film where the main characters all killed each other. What a relief it was for me to see them all killed off and to know that it was finally the end of the show!I would love to find some good Spanish film making, but perhaps the good stuff just isn't getting the publicity?

Jose and Silvia are in love, and she is pregnant, so they decide to marry, but his mother doesn't want it and contract Raul to seduce Silvia in order to break this marrying. Bigas Luna makes a film to laugh about his own Spanish topics: Paella, Jamon, Toros...all mixed with some strange love stories that results on a yawning 90 minutes movie with only two or three things decent: The hams fighting between Raul and Jose and the bodies of a very young Penelope Cruz (by far, the best thing of the movie, maybe underage) and Javeier Bardem. The rest of the things, the jokes, the surrealistic setting does nothing more than annoy and bore. There's things better to do rather than seeing this film.

"Jamon, jamon" revolves around lust and machismo. It's basically about sex, sex, and more sex! From the very start of the movie, with a bulge shot of Raul (Javier Bardem) to the rape scene of Silvia (Penelope Cruz), the film presents a sordid tale of "love" among twisted minds and perverted people (as each character partners with another throughout the whole film.) You cannot mistake this movie for a wholesome film because sex is literally shoved down your gut every second as it is peppered with symbols of dogs, pigs, a parrot, ham (as the title so gives away), pearls and what have you, which emphasize on the already obvious theme of the movie--sex, while showering you with loads and loads of sex sequences. At one point, I began asking myself what the point of the movie is. The characters are given no dignity and the director doesn't give one any reason to sympathize with them.A ray of light or salvation for this film comes when Silvia after being forced into sex stands up and fights for her "womanity." She runs to her lover Raul and again, engage in sex. This time though impassioned sex/love making happens which is all too different from the previous ones. But later, Raul backslides and again gives in to money and the flesh leaving Silvia behind. Here, I accepted the fact that this movie is really about nothing. My feeling is validated by more surprises from other characters who aborted the purported salvation of this film. The movie ends with ham clubbing... hence, "Jamon, jamon." (I'd club this film with a ham too! grrr.)One good thing about the film is its title. The English translation of the film literally is "ham, ham" but my DVD subtitle says, "Of Love and Ham." I believe this is really the essence of the film--the pathos of looking for love in a community so driven by lust, greed, and selfishness. It is literally shown in the symbol of broken pearls and a pearl shoved in a pig's ass! The quest for love in such a forlorn community is like giving pearls to the pigs. Silvia could be anyone; she could be you or me... wanting some real love. Sadly, she risked it all to people who knew nothing more than giving in to the cravings of the flesh. For this I give the film a 4.