Kika (1993)

Director:

Pedro Almodóvar

Writers:

Pedro Almodóvar (screenplay)
Pedro Almodóvar (story)

Release Date:

6 May 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Comedy

Plot:

Kika, a young cosmetologist, is called to the mansion of Nicolas, an American writer to make-up the corpse of his stepson...

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Bare Breasts | Nudity | Black Comedy | Bound And Gagged

Awards:

5 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Verónica Forqué	...	Kika (as Veronica Forque)
Peter Coyote	...	Nicholas
Victoria Abril	...	Andrea Caracortada
Àlex Casanovas	...	Ramón
Rossy de Palma	...	Juana (as Rossy De Palma)
Santiago Lajusticia	...	Pablo
Anabel Alonso	...	Amparo
Bibiana Fernández	...	Susana (as Bibí Andersen)
Jesús Bonilla	...	Policía (as Jesus Bonilla)
Karra Elejalde	...	Policía
Manuel Bandera	...	Chico Carretera
Charo López	...	Rafaela (as Charo Lopez)
Francisca Caballero	...	Doña Paquita
Mónica Bardem	...	Paca (as Monica Bardem)
Joaquín Climent	...	Asesino
Blanca Li	...	Víctima del asesino
Claudia Aros	...	Modelo
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Agustín Almodóvar	...	Reparador de puertas (uncredited)

Directed by
Pedro Almodóvar		(as Pedro Almodovar)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Pedro Almodóvar		screenplay
Pedro Almodóvar		story

Produced by
Agustín Almodóvar	....	executive producer

Cinematography by
Alfredo Mayo

Film Editing by
José Salcedo		(as Jose Salcedo)

Set Decoration by
Alain Bainée
Javier Fernández

Costume Design by
José María De Cossío		(as Jose María Cossio)
Gianni Versace

Makeup Department
Antoñita viuda de Ruiz	....	wigs (as Viuda de Ruiz)
Ana Lozano	....	assistant makeup artist
Jesús Moncusi	....	hair stylist (as Jesus Moncusi)
Gregorio Ros	....	makeup artist
Susana Sánchez	....	makeup artist trainee (as Susana Sanchez)

Production Management
Clarissa Couassi	....	assistant production manager
Esther García	....	production manager
Lola García	....	assistant production manager
Aude Girard	....	production supervisor: France
Toni Novella	....	assistant production manager
Tino Pont	....	assistant production manager
Alejandro Vázquez	....	production manager (as Alejandro Vazquez)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Raúl de la Morena	....	assistant director (as Raul De La Morena)
Sergio Francisco	....	second assistant director
Susana González	....	second second assistant director
Ramón Saralegui	....	trainee assistant director (as Ramon Saralegui)

Art Department
Paco Escribano	....	assistant set dresser
Federico García Cambero	....	set dresser (as Federico G.ª Cambero)
Enrique García	....	set constructor
Cristina Mampaso	....	assistant set decorator
Helena McLean	....	assistant set decorator
José Luis Navarro	....	assistant set dresser
Nuria Sanjuan	....	assistant set decorator
Juan Ignacio Viñuales	....	set dresser
Enrique Vázquez	....	property master

Sound Department
Luis Castro	....	sound effects
Denis Guilhem	....	boom operator
Graham V. Hartstone	....	sound re-recording mixer
Nicolas Le Messurier	....	sound mixer (as Nic Lemussurier)
Jean-Paul Mugel	....	sound (as Jean Paul Mugel)

Special Effects by
Jean-Baptiste Bonetto	....	special effects technician (as Jean Baptiste Bonetto)
Yves Domenjoud	....	special effects technician
Olivier Gleyze	....	special effects technician
Lucas Klingenberg	....	special effects assistant (as Lucas Klinglenberg)

Visual Effects by
Carlos J. Santos	....	optical (as Carlos Santos)

Stunts
Ignacio Carreño	....	stunts
Ángel Quislant	....	stunt double: Peter Coyote (as Angel Quislant)

Camera and Electrical Department
Fernando Beltrán	....	electrician (as Fernando Beltran)
Marco Besas	....	camera trainee
Rafael Castro	....	electrician
Rafael De Santiago	....	assistant Steadicam operator
Alfredo Díaz	....	crane grip (as Alfredo Díaz Viña)
Rafael García Martos	....	gaffer (as Rafael García)
Carlos Pedro García	....	electrician
Teodoro García	....	grip
Ángel Granell	....	electrician (as Angel Granel)
Jean-Marie Leroy	....	still photographer (as Jean Marie Leroy)
Joaquín Manchado	....	Steadicam operator
Alfredo Mayo	....	camera operator
Carlos Miguel	....	key grip
Miguel Ángel Muñoz	....	assistant camera (as Miguel Angel Muñoz)
Cristina Noé	....	second assistant camera (as Cristina Noe)
Gorka Rotaetxe	....	video technician

Casting Department
Ramiro De Maeztu	....	casting dubbing director

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jean-Paul Gaultier	....	costume designer: Verónica Abril (as J.P. Gaultier)
Ana Lacoma	....	wardrobe
Hugo Mezcua	....	assistant costume designer
Amelia Moya	....	wardrobe
Puy Uche	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Manolo Laguna	....	assistant editor
Ximo Michavila	....	telecine colorist
Rosa Ortiz	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Juan Carlos Cuello	....	music engineer

Transportation Department
Ángel Megino	....	transportation (as Angel Megino)
Miguel Sánchez Busto	....	driver (as Miguel Sanchez)

Other crew
Emilio Ardura	....	tapestry
Mila Bentabol	....	collaborator
Simona Benzakein	....	collaborator (as Simona Benzakeim)
Dis Berlin	....	collaborator
Anthony Carregal	....	collaborator
Antoni Casadesús	....	collaborator (as Antoni Casadesus)
Brigada Castellanos	....	collaborator
Rafael De Unamuno	....	sketcher
Fernando Estrella	....	collaborator
Abraham García	....	collaborator
Rocío García	....	collaborator
Arturo González	....	sketcher (as Arturo Gonzalez)
Susana González	....	assistant to director (as Susana Gonzalez)
Susana Gordo	....	administration staff
Jorge Guerricaechevarría	....	assistant to director
Rafael Hostelería	....	caterer
Marisa Ibarra	....	script supervisor
Luchi López	....	collaborator (as Luchi Lopez)
Pura López	....	collaborator (as Pura Lopez)
Luisfer Machi	....	administration staff
Joaquín Manchado	....	making-of
Marini Monje	....	stage manager
Miguel Montero	....	collaborator
Marisol Muriel	....	collaborator
Angela Navarro	....	collaborator
Pablo Pro Alvarez	....	collaborator
Tino Roig	....	collaborator
Michel Ruben	....	collaborator
Carlos J. Santos	....	title designer (as Carlos Santos)
Ana Sanz	....	administration staff
Alfonso Sicilia	....	collaborator
Paz Sufrategui	....	press and promotion
Óscar Valero	....	cashier (as Oscar Valero)
Ana Vidal	....	production secretary

Thanks
Antonio Almerich	....	acknowledgment
Borgia Conti	....	thanks
Clemente de Zamora	....	thanks
Carlos Luna	....	thanks
Alonso Mercader	....	acknowledgment
Ricky Pizarro	....	acknowledgment
Capucine Puerari	....	acknowledgment
António Santos	....	acknowledgment
María Luisa Sotes	....	acknowledgment

Production Companies

• El Deseo S.A. (presents)
• CiBy 2000 (co-production)

Distributors

• Union Générale Cinématographique (UGC) (1993) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Sogefilms S.A. (1993) (Spain) (theatrical)
• TF1 Vidéo (2000) (France) (DVD)
• Belga Films (1994) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Filmauro (1995) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Momentum Pictures (1994) (UK) (theatrical)
• October Films (1994) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Spentzos Films (1994) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment Finland Oy (1994) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Home Video (2007) (Canada) (DVD)
• Castle Filmes (Brazil) (VHS)
• Editora Europa (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (1997) (USA) (DVD)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• Spentzos Film Home Video (1994) (Greece) (VHS)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (Argentina) (video)
• Vidmark Entertainment (1995) (USA) (video)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1998) (Finland) (TV)
• Zima Entertainment (2005) (Mexico) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Les Versaillais

Other Companies

• Caser  security
• Charly Sound  sound recording and mixing
• Cinetel  lighting
• Cinégrip  camera cranes
• Coprisa  fiscal consultancy
• Giorgio Armani  acknowledgement: clothes
• Legis Cine S.A.  management
• Mengíbar  props
• Paul Smith  acknowledgement: clothes
• Procoex  transportation
• Stvdio Gatti  graphic design
• Vázquez Hermanos  props
• Yves Saint Laurent  acknowledgement: clothes

Also Known As:

"Kika" - France
"Кика" - Russia
"Kika" - Greece
"Kika" - Turkey (Turkish title)
"Kika" - Slovenia
"Kika" - Hungary
"Kika" - Portugal (imdb display title)
"Kika - Un corpo in prestito" - Italy (imdb display title)

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

Spain | France

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby | Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Canada:18+ (Ontario) | Portugal:M/16 | France:-12 (TV rating) | Italy:VM14 | New Zealand:R18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:R | Chile:18 | Denmark:16 | Finland:K-16 | France:-16 | Germany:16 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:NC-17 (original rating) (rating surrendered) | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Estudios Los Angeles, Madrid, Spain

Company:

El Deseo S.A.

Trivia:

María Barranco was originally signed to play the role of Kika, but had to drop out due to her pregnancy.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Muchachada nui: Episode #4.13" (2010)

Soundtrack:

Se nos rompió el amor

Frustrating disappointment from a superb director

When a film begins with a keyhole bordered image of a woman undressing, sufficient precautions should be taken. When Pedro Almodóvar begins a film in such a voyeuristic fashion, everything seems right in the world.

Such is the opening sequence of Almodóvar's 10th full-length feature, Kika. A twisted tale of murder, rape, incest and just about every other adjective describing a vulgar or sinful act, Kika is at times hard to watch but usually even harder to turn away from. But while its tangled web of intertwining characters and story lines is compelling enough not to lose interest, the manner through which it maintains that interest does not prove to be worth the entertainment.

You're probably wondering why I would be driving you away from a film that sounds so engaging. If you are familiar with Almodóvar's work, it will be much easier for you to both grasp and handle this film. If you are not familiar with Almodóvar's work, this is not the place to start. If you have heard of Almodóvar's reputation but have never seen his films, this is not the place to start. In any other remotely similar situation, this is not the place to start.

I am only so relentless because Almodóvar is one of the greatest Spanish filmmakers of our time. He has a stunning catalog of films and is somewhat of a hero of the art's counter-culture. With a reputation for pushing the limits, Almodóvar is usually successful in delivering even the most perverse films in a tasteful manner.

That is where Kika fails: It is full of content but lacking delivery. If the film took itself seriously there would be much more to work with. But with the direction it chose, trying to be a dark (pitch dark) comedy, the subject matter is too tasteless to work.

To prove my point, let's do a little role playing. I will be the enthusiastic screenwriter pitching my story to you, the money-hungry studio executive half-heartedly listening to my idea for the next screwball comedy:

OK, so Ramón is a young man whose mother commits suicide for reasons that may or may not point to her unhappy marriage with Ramón's stepfather, Nicholas. Three years later, the stepfather and son move in together. One day while Ramón is presumed dead, a young woman named Kika is sent to apply makeup to his corpse, only to witness his miraculous revival. Kika and Ramón soon begin dating and she moves in with him. Eventually, Kika decides to make it a family affair by secretly having sex with Nicholas, Ramón's womanizing stepfather.

This is when it gets good.

The witness to everything is Ramón's lesbian housemaid, Juana. She has an insane brother who, as an adolescent, had sex with all sorts of animals but then moved on to raping the neighborhood girls. Being the great sister that she is, she started having sex with him so that he could "let off some steam" instead of pursuing his new hobby. His destructive path soon leads him to jail.

This is when it really gets good.

Years later, Juana's brother escapes from prison and tracks her down to the apartment at which she works. The fugitive plans to pilfer a few cameras from the apartment until he discovers the sleeping Kika. Against his sister's pleas, he rapes Kika for what seems like hours. The rape is called in by a peeping-tom across the street and an investigation ensues to find out who was involved, or rather who wasn't involved.

Sound funny? I didn't think so. And with such despicable characters, it is nearly impossible to find anyone, or anything, to laugh at. The most frustrating part about the film is that Almodóvar could have made this into a powerful drama, as he did with Talk to Her and Bad Education. All the elements are there, it's just in the completely wrong genre. It's like trying to turn Schindler's List into a sitcom.

But turning Kika into a drama would involve a few changes, especially Verónica Forqué as Kika. She is completely over-the-top and not once convincing. She adds nothing to her part and is especially painful to watch during her emotionless and even smart alecky rape.

The rape scene itself is the film's biggest red flag. No matter how hard you try, even if you are Pedro Almodóvar, making comedy out of such an emotionally charged issue as rape will prove improbable if not impossible.

With that said, Kika is a blow to Almodóvar fans who find themselves defending his films as artistic not licentious. Instead of an earnest film by a standout director, we are given an indecent soap opera with questionable direction. But we'll forgive you Pedro, nobody's perfect.