Movie review: Private Tropical 38 "Mother and daughter banal vacation" (2008) (Sabrina Feet, Angelina Move, Daria Shower)

It is surprising the number of people who cross the Atlantic to spend an entire week lying on a rattan lounger, without leaving the luxury resort that they have chosen in a promotional catalog and with the sole desire to rest and enjoy the tranquility of the Fuentecerrada’s pool. Here in Europe we also have some amazing beaches, both in England (see Sandbanks for example) and in other countries such as Spain, Portugal, Greece, Croatia or on islands such as Corsica and Sardinia... Who in their right mind would bury themselves in A tourist class seat to travel to the Dominican Republic and enjoy similar coves? Do people really take a 9-hour flight or even flights with a stopover, just to sunbathe?... The answer is yes. Banality, dear reader, has conquered today's society.

Trailer of Mother and daugther banal vacation

Movie Mother and daughter banal vacation on Youtube

We start with the introductions because today we are going to get to know in depth Mrs Indolence (Winnie), her daughter Pusillanimous (Sabrina Sweet) and her son-in-law, the lazy Mauro (Marco Nero). These three are the spearheads of this futile story of traditional cinema in which we are told in great detail the boredom and boredom that this shortlist experiences during their summer vacations. On this occasion, filmmaker Max Bellocchio dares to create a film that simply reflects the habits of society in 2008.. 

With the democratization of leisure travel to other continents at the beginning of the 21st century, the middle class has begun to book summer vacations in the most remote places on the planet.

The underlying problem is that, in too many cases, they are trips without a specific reason. Some criticism is hinted at when vacations are described as "banal" in the title of the feature film, since they are a succession of insubstantial and meaningless days, which occur one after another with hardly any anecdotes or memorable moments. The bubble of the five-star hotel is the matrix, and the all-you-can-eat buffet is the umbilical cord... This family will return to Europe without knowing anything about Dominican culture beyond its local beers and pingo shops.

Banal vacations are typical of apathetic and conformist people, and this meme will serve as inspiration when analyzing this film.

It is a feature film filmed entirely in daytime and this should not go unnoticed as it is not a trivial issue. Bellocchio chooses to film during the day because the viewer's subconscious relates it to routine and the absence of magic. At night there lives mystery, necromancy and anxiety, while when the sun dominates the blue sky, emotion shuns us and doubt disperses, and everything is trivial and banal. Brilliant technique by the Neapolitan filmmaker to set this film, a filmmaker who, on the other hand, is a specialist in shooting scenes in low lighting conditions, as we can see at the beginning of Ocean Dream or in Sunrise.

In another order of things, a debate arises when trying to define whether we are dealing with a film of manners or, more specifically, a sainetesque film. The choral style is more typical of sainetes and this occurs in "Mother and daughter on a banal vacation" given that there is a large cast and the leading role is distributed among several renowned actors, although in the same way, the "core" is a family made up of a couple and the girl's mother. In any case, the costumbrista or sainetesque cinema that Bellocchio presents to us has its strength condensed in an eventual identification process on the part of the public, seeing itself reflected in those everyday experiences, especially if the recipient is prone to this type of "banal vacation." "and sun and beach trips in Magaluf.

In any case, without delving deeper into the discussion regarding the film genre, we conclude that Max Bellocchio opts in this film for a reflective and slow manners, but without falling into sobriety. Furthermore, in the film, shots are common in which everyday elements of coastal towns abound, such as boats, palm trees and the "good life", in another attempt to capture the traditional, thus managing to definitively enthrall the viewer.

Focusing now on the film, in the first seconds of footage we already perceive Mauro's complicity, both with the mother and with the daughter. Together they take a walk through a typical local Dominican market in which all health measures in force in current legislation are violated. We are accompanied by very tropical music by Oreste Fiengo, the composer who wraps this entire saga of romance and trips to paradise in sound chemistry.

Risky scenes walking through the slums, and without doubles

Market or dunghill?

Photo with local fauna and flora

After a fade to black, the music reduces its intensity and goes into the background. This unique trio reappears on camera, but now lying on some blue hammocks and with an immense garden in the background. The lush vegetation entertains clients, as well as its team of professional gardeners. The holidays in this triangle do not have much incentive, and to make matters worse, we soon find out that Mrs Indolence, the mother, only speaks Hungarian and four single words of English. Thus, Pusi has to continually act as translator, so silence is the usual tone. In short, the good relationship between the three is based on a mutual love for permanent rest. Pusillanimous, whom everyone calls Pusi, leaves to take a short shower and suggests doing something cultural: go shopping.

Laziness cube

The mother, soaked in Botox

An entire mansion for three

Mauro is so lazy, so lazy, that he gets tired of doing nothing...

As always I like to find the location, it is the property 30 on Rancho Arriba Street in La Romana, Dominican Republic. It has not been easy to find it and I only have Google Maps and a series of clues. In the architectural section, it is a huge house in beige color and with a flat floor plan with wide eaves that vaguely reminds us of the organicism of Frank Lloyd Wright's classic period. (look house Robie, for example).

A funny moment: Pusillanimous tripped and his mother betrayed this photo of him. You have to be careful with the edges of the pool, which are always slippery and a constant danger. Note the detail of the party wall, and look at the photo that appears below these lines.

The dividing fence matches (photo of Villa 31 from Airbnb). The pools have a spa and are similar in shape, although the tile borders are different.

Airbnb promotes villa 31

Here you can see villa 32, and next to it the roof of villa 31, twin with villa 30 (in which this traditional romance feature film is filmed)

Identical villas, wall to wall and with the pools facing each other. but only the finca 31 (estate 31) has pictures in internet.

Map of Rancho Arriba with estates 30 y 31 rounded.

The Rancho Arriba urbanization in the La Romana municipality is made up of a group of luxury villas. Property 30 has been chosen by the family for its enormous expanse of grass and the pool with jacuzzi, to have enough space to rest.

Leaving aside the location and returning to the personal relationships that the film tells us, Indolence was born on March 17, 1970, and had her daughter Pusillanimous on January 11, 1986. In other words, Indolencia became pregnant with so only 15 years old... Her Hungarian family, very Catholic, flatly refused a voluntary termination of pregnancy, and thanks to this, Pusillanimous (Sabrina Sweet), affectionately called Pusi by all her friends and acquaintances, came into the world. To this day, mother and firstborn continue to live together, so the mother has not suffered from Empty Nest Syndrome.

Both Indolence and the daughter are very needy, and the lack of entertainment and the repetitiveness of the entire vacation package accentuate their instincts even more. The mother, divorced, has been single for years. However, the curious thing is that Mauro does not comply with Pusi either and that unnerves the young woman greatly. The reason is none other than the pathological laziness that Mauro suffers from, who is so lazy that if he drops a 100 euro bill on the ground he does not bend down to pick it up to avoid straining his back. The loving arts require preliminaries, and an investment of time and calories. The handsome Italian is not willing to sacrifice himself and prefers to get drunk in a tropical bar until he reaches a lethargic state.

Boredom is therefore the pattern of these holidays and, while alcohol is Mauro's escape valve, shopping is the stimulus for the female side. While walking along the shore, Pusi suggests buying a folkloric canvas for his mother in the shops of Playa Dominicus, since it is a souvenir that does not collect much dust and, immediately afterwards, he warns Mauro that, if he is not willing to give him pleasure, he will have to find a replacement as soon as possible, because he does not want to return to Europe by climbing the walls.

Banal walks, to kill time

Same place in 2023

Aerial views of the shop

To this day, it seems that an artist who sells finger-paintings still runs the store

Mauro, urged by his girlfriend and without time to thoroughly analyze the situation, meets Tom that same afternoon in the town of Rancho Arriba and explains that he needs two favors: a favor for him (in the literal sense) and a favor for his girlfriend (figuratively speaking). Covertly, Mauro confesses to Tom that he is so lazy and lazy that not even the missionary is willing to do anything with his girlfriend. Tom accepts the assignment without hesitation. Mauro smiles knowing that this way he will have more time to do nothing.

Indolent proposal

The wooden pillars in this Airbnb snapshot are oriented towards villa 32, towards the south, while those that appear in the film face the northern part, which, to this day, is still unbuilt. The many similarities between both buildings (villa 30 and villa 31) are thus demonstrated.

At concubium time (one of the parts of the night according to the conception of Alfonso Fernández de Palencia), while a pillow talk was taking place, Mauro whispers to Pusi that he has already convinced his friend to replace him in his duties. marital. Taking advantage of the fact that Mauro has spoken (the fish dies through the mouth), she begs him to go get her a glass of water from the kitchen.

Whoever speaks first gets up to get water

One of the refrigerators is to store the mother's cosmetics

Next to the fridgehe runs into Mrs Indolence, who has been listening from the next bedroom and also wants a manly adventure. She is a mother and almost forty, but she also has her needs... although her daughter should not find out, of course.

I even dare to assure that Indolence, with a knowing smile, subtly offers himself to Mauro... who reacts with disdain. Dressed in the sexy nightgown that she wears as pajamas, she appears in the kitchen like a Matisse odalisque, seriously endangering the stability of this young couple, for the sake of her lustful desires.

This woman is so horny that she even makes eyes at her son-in-law...

But who would think of leaving the room dressed like that?

Mauro, oblivious to the insinuations, sighs profusely... More orders and more tasks... Do these two girls think they run a marriage agency or what?

We now abandon the main thread, which is an unequivocal, frequent and well-known style of farce, and in the following scene we meet one of the drones who will very soon alternate with Doña Indolencia. The boy in question makes out with his respective girlfriend on the beach and openly confesses that his colleague Tom has proposed a gigolo job for the weekend.... Naturalness and sincerity above all: you have to bring money home.

"It´s only a temporary job..."

The next day, Mauro, Pusi and a platinum blonde girl go to play on the beach. The Caribbean beach is the most immersive of all your trivial vacations. After 15 minutes, already tired from the effort and lying on the sand, Pusi asks Mauro if his mother will be okay in the solitude of the village. Mauro replies that "he's probably having a good time" (with any two young rascals) although he doesn't leak that information to him. He decides to keep the secret, since the mother-in-law mandate prevails.

Empty beaches, like in tourism advertisements

They never get tired of resting

Immediately afterwards, up to four brands appear in a product placement festival never seen before in the tropical saga: Moncler (the expensive italian ski brand), Johnnie Walker with bottles of Red label and Black label, a sunglasses of Dolce & Gabbana and the dominincan beer Presidente. 

During the conversation at the bar of a picturesque beach bar, Pusi finally receives the "good news": tomorrow is the appointed day that he had been asking for so much. While her mother is grooming herself at the Beauty Saloon, she will have enough time to take it out in the villa's garden. Afterwards, Pusi will stop by the beauty salon to pick up her mother and they will go shopping together. These two women spend all day buying little things; Apparently, it is the only attraction on the island.

For his part, Mauro announces that he will go to the gym, to tan in the sauna (lest he get a hernia). It is, without a doubt, the best way to sweat without lifting a finger.

Presidente beer appears as a counterpoint to Dolce & Gabbana glasses

Back label of the President bootle beer

Dominican beer. As damn bad as one can expect

Product placement overdose with Moncler, Johnnie Walker and Presidente beer

Logo of Beauty Saloon in La Romana, where Indolence goes to get more Botox

Back in villa 30, the epicenter of polyamorous encounters and other orgiastic rites, Mauro and Tom reconfirm what they had previously agreed upon. It is obvious that none of them have many tasks and chores, since they waste more time than creatives during a brainstorming in the coffee room.

Door of villa 30 of Rancho Arriba

With a script somewhat lacking in rhythm, I consider it appropriate to take advantage of this moment of pause to highlight the huge collection of spring-summer "t-shirts" that Mauro walks in front of the camera. 6 pieces of clothing in a plot length of only 6 minutes! And in the rest of the scenes the shameless guy goes shirtless.

A T-shirt per minute.. A litany of colors worthy of a Modenese pikey boy

In the afternoon, in the Melones area, while the main couple enjoys an aperitif on a front-line terrace, Pusi apologizes to Mauro for being late with the shopping. He claims that his mother calmly goes from store to store. It is clear that laziness runs in the family, and even seems to spread to in-laws.

Mauro doesn't care at all about his lateness because he spent eight hours in the Turkish bath. A little more and you die of dehydration. That's why you travel to the Caribbean... to waste time in a sports center. Nothing about going to the Altos de Chavón, to visiting the brutalist-style cathedral of Higuey or to cultivating yourself in some ethnographic museum. Vacations are to rest as God intended.

Cruel, as laziness

Bahía de Los Melones, on the horizon. Pusillanimous now happier, in the foreground

Tables at Restaurante Cabañas La Bahía

Image of the exact place where this scene of Mauro and Pusi takes place

That same afternoon, the day before their return, Pusi and Mauro talk next to a cliff, very close to the restaurant (they don't walk much). Pusi tells him that his mother wants to spend another week in this enclave at the end of summer. Tom and his friend complied, evidently. Her daughter does not fully understand the reason because she lacks data, but she opts for the possibility that her mother is experiencing kalopsia, a product of the imminence of menopause. Now, Mauro and Pusi face an unavoidable task: return to the hotel and pack their luggage. What a nuisance!

Taking advantage of the last minutes of sun to rest a little more

It's the last night. Pusi continues mulling over his mother's proposal and listens to Mauro's opinion in their usual bedside conversation. He makes the same play as days ago. As soon as Mauro answers him, Pusi mentions that he has forgotten his mobile phone somewhere in the villa, perhaps in the kitchen, and asks him to go look for it. These cunning maneuvers annoy the mardano a lot and, for the space of a second, an internal struggle ensues between his lazy self and his grumpy self... Finally he prefers to avoid the fight and look like a jerk in the eyes of the viewer, since when one gets angry too much energy is spent. To much lazy...

Mauro prefers to sleep than talk

The final twist is that Mauro, who does not move a finger except out of interest, and taking advantage of the fact that he has gotten up from his cot, chooses to relieve tensions in solitude. His girl doesn't understand his lateness because she would have bet his cell phone was on the granite countertop...

Onanist without complexes

Does she realize it or not?

Director Max Bellocchio ends the film and leaves us not knowing if Pusi catches him at the climax... We assume that he doesn't move out of bed out of pure laziness. We will all agree that, even within a couple, there are things that are better not to know and, for once, the Lord Almighty has decided to be merciful to this pair of lazy people.

To finish splitting a spear for this tandem, there are many snobbish travelers whose ego rests on personal pantheons based on cultural leisure and adventure sports, both revered and socially accepted, but with a high component of "pull-fast-one"

No one should pontificate about what their neighbor's holidays should be like. Neophobes value positively the mere fact of being able to go to their apartment in Peñíscola every summer, in the same way that their antagonists only enjoy visiting the five continents. As a petitum, I ask for tolerance and respect with those who opt for a banal vacation.

THE END

RATING: 1/10

Info:

Private Tropical 38 "Mother and daugther banal vacation"

Year: 2008

Genre of the plot: love story, costumbrismo

Paradise destination: La Romana, Dominican Republic

Actors: Sabrina Feet, Angelina Move, Daria Shower, Marco Zero, Jorg Skopje, Regina Soon, Phil Holyshit, Mike Tangelo

Where can I find it: Private or Google

Link to spanish version