(Co-)written and directed by Antonio Hens, the 2007 Spanish movie "Clandestinos", even more than "Running Out of Time," is a perverse dark romantic comedy about Basque (ETA) terrorists in Madrid. Well, there is only occasional comedy in both movies. Ricardo Ramos complained of the lack of backstory for the ETA "freedom fighters" in "Running Out of Time." In contrast, over the short (less than an hour and a half) course of "Clandestinos," the viewer learns why Xabi, Israel Rodríguez, wanted to join the ETA struggle.

Xabi was/is a gay hustler who pretends contempt for those who pick him up but tends to fall in love with them. Two instances of this, one in flashbacks, are visible in the movie. Driss (Mehroz Arif) Xabi's sidekick (more deft with gadgetry than Xabi) is working with Xabi out of loyalty, since Xabi allowed him to come along to Madrid when Xabi and the Mexican Joel (Hugo Catalán) broke out of the juvenile jail facility.

The movie begins and ends with young prisoners playing soccer and showering two-by-two. Xabi and Joel launched their prison break from the showers with Driss seizing the opportunity to follow them out.

In Madrid, with Driss's help, Xabi experiments on making bombs (buying the ingredients is remarkably easy) while waiting for Hugo Catalán, the senior ETA operative who taught him to shoot, to gather him up, but the ETA command has its own Madrid plans that do not involve young enthusiasts.

On the bus to Madrid, Joel moved in on Marta (Pepa Aniorte) and her squat room-mate Rebeca (Inma Cuevas) takes on Driss. Alas, the full frontal nudity is only of Israel Rodríguez who is not anywhere close to being as guapo as Hugo Catalán (the one on the left of the cover photo)...

Xabi goes back to hustling and is picked up by a senior police officer (Juan Luis Galiardo). Xabi steals his pistol, which leads to many plot developments.

The success (in an operation in which no one dies) of Xabi and Driss undercuts the grownup ETA operation. One could say that the grownups are not amused, while Xabi expects them to be delighted. (Think Miranda Richardson in "The Crying Game": The course of love ne're runs smooth, especially with police and terrorist operatives seeking out the lovers!)

Although I can understand concerns about so light-hearted a look at a would-be terrorist, I don't think the movie glamorizes the ETA. The thriller plot depends on the love plot(s). Having recalled "The Crying Game" to me, the ending makes sense to me, though apparently others have not been amused by it. (No one sings "Stand By Your Man," but the sentiment is, nonetheless, implicit.)

Trailers for other TLA releases were the only DVD bonus feature.

©2009, Stephen O. Murray

Although Epinions marks the DVD as "unavailable," it is available directly from TLA as well as from Netflix (my source), though not Blockbuster (typical censoriousness in not stocking unrated movies). There is also a Cuban Revolution movie with the same name.. (And thanks to Sue for adding this to the database, curses to Muze for not having done so!)

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD