La verbena de la Paloma: A bit of old Madrid magic

Is it worth your time?

If you have any patience for mid-30s musical theater adaptations, you'll probably get a kick out of this. It’s got that specific, slightly grainy charm that makes you feel like you’re watching a piece of history that doesn't care if you're bored or not.

People who hate anything that feels stagey or rely on constant plot progression might find themselves checking their watches. But honestly, if you just want to soak in the atmosphere of 1930s Madrid, it hits the spot. 💃

Notes from the couch

The whole thing feels like a whirlwind of skirts and shouting. Julián is exactly the kind of guy who gets way too worked up over a girl who clearly isn't interested in his steady, boring life. It’s frustrating to watch, but it feels real in that old-school, dramatic way.

There’s a scene where the music swells up and you can tell the camera crew was doing their absolute best to keep up with the dancers. It’s a bit messy! You can see the edges of the set if you look hard enough.

I couldn't help but think about how different this is from something like Molodost. It’s like comparing a street festival to a quiet, cold room. The energy here is just… loud.

• The costumes are genuinely beautiful.
• Some of the dialogue hits like a brick, but in a fun way.
• The sound quality is what you'd expect—a bit tinny, but it has character.

Sometimes, the movie stops dead just so someone can sing another song. It doesn't make much sense for the story, but I didn't really mind. It feels like the filmmakers were just happy to have a camera and a stage.

I noticed one actor in the background during the big party scene who seems to forget his lines for a second. He just smiles at the floor until the camera pans away. It’s these tiny, imperfect moments that make me glad I sat through the whole thing instead of clicking away.

It’s definitely not as weird or experimental as Emperor of the planet of rotting fish, but it’s got its own weird pulse. It’s not trying to be a masterpiece. It’s just trying to be a show. And sometimes, that’s plenty.