''Peppermint Frappé'' is a 1967 Spanish

psychological thriller Psychological thriller is a Film genre, genre combining the thriller (genre), thriller and psychological fiction genres. It is commonly used to describe literature or films that deal with psychological narratives in a thriller or thrilling setting ...

film co-written and directed by

Carlos Saura Carlos Saura Atarés (4 January 1932 – 10 February 2023) was a Spanish film director, photographer and writer. With Luis Buñuel and Pedro Almodóvar, he is considered to be among Spain's great filmmakers. He had a long and prolific career th ...

, starring

Geraldine Chaplin Geraldine Leigh Chaplin (born July 31, 1944) is an American actress whose long career has included multilingual roles in English, Spanish, French, Italian and German films. Geraldine is a daughter of Charlie Chaplin, the first of his eigh ...

José Luis López Vázquez José Luis López Vázquez de la Torre Medal of Merit in Labour, MMT (11 March 1922 – 2 November 2009) was a Spanish actor, comedian, costume designer, scenic designer, and assistant director whose career spanned nearly seven decades. He was ...

and

Alfredo Mayo Alfredo Fernández Martínez (17 May 1911 in Barcelona – 19 May 1985 in Palma de Mallorca) better known as Alfredo Mayo was a Spanish actor. Biography After studying medicine, in 1929 Mayo made his debut in the theatre with the company of ...

. The story centers on a man who becomes obsessed with the wife of an old friend, believing her to be a mysterious drummer that he once fell in love with at a festival. He pursues her only to be rebuffed multiple times.

Plot

A pair of hands meticulously crops images from a fashion magazine for a personal scrapbook. The hands belong to an unassuming and conservative physician named Julián. He runs a radiology clinic from his personal residence, assisted by a shy, mild mannered nurse named Ana. One afternoon, Julián is invited to the house of the mother of his friend Pablo, where a reunion of the two childhood pals has been arranged. Pablo is a charismatic and sophisticated adventurer who has recently returned from Africa with the unexpected news that he has married a beautiful and carefree young woman named Elena. Pablo hands Julián a drink, his favorite cocktail, peppermint frappe, as the group awaits the entrance of Elena, who is upstairs dressing. The sight of the captivating Elena visibly stuns Julián, as Elena reminds him of a mysterious woman he had seen beating drums during the famous Holy Week ritual in the village of

Calanda Calanda may refer to: * Calanda, Spain, a town in Aragon, Spain * Calanda (mountain) in Graubünden, Switzerland * Calanda Bräu, a brewery in Chur, Switzerland, now owned by Heineken International * ''Calanda'' (plant), a genus of the family R ...

. She insists that she has never seen him before, nor has she ever been to Calanda. Despite her rebukes, Julián finds himself immediately drawn to Elena's cosmopolitan demeanor. During the days following their first encounter, Julián becomes increasingly infatuated with Pablo's bride and finds pretext to spend time with her. While Pablo is busy, Julián takes Elena sightseeing to Cuenca. Despite her indifference to his attentions, Julián's obsession with Elena does not diminish. Frustrated by his inability to win Elena's affection, Julián turns his attention to his laboratory assistant, Ana, who has secretly pined for Julián. A sexual liaison between the two is soon established. Julián manipulates Ana, coercing her to dress and groom herself like Elena does. While involved with Ana, Julián continues to pursue the elusive Elena, but she resists his advances with open derision. Julián invites Pablo and Elena to his cottage on the countryside to spend the weekend. He takes them on a tour of the grounds of the abandoned spa where he and Pablo used to play as children. After a practical joke by Pablo and Elena, aimed at humiliating Julián (Elena showing up with a drum), Julián begins to plan an elaborate revenge against the couple. Picking up Elena's curiosity about his relationship with Ana, Julián invites Elena and Pablo to join him and Ana in his country house. Before Pablo and Elena arrive, Julián has Ana drugged and, while she is sleeping, places what appears to be the same drug in a decanter containing peppermint frappe. When Pablo and Elena arrive, Julián tells them that Ana will be a little late and offers them the beverage. After a few sips, the couple begins to ridicule Julián once again. When they succumb to the drug, Julián carries their bodies to their car which he causes to roll off a cliff, giving the appearance that the couple had died in an automobile accident. Returning to his country house, Julián finds the place cleared of all incriminating traces and Ana being dressed as the woman of Calanda. The film ends as the two embrace.

Cast

as Elena/ Ana/ Woman of Calanda *

as Julián *

as Pablo * Ana Maria Custodio as Pablo's mother * Emiliano Redondo as Arturo *

Fernando Sánchez Polack Fernando Sánchez Polack (11 August 1920 – 24 January 1982) was a Spanish actor. He appeared in more than 110 films and television shows from 1959 to 1982, mostly in supporting roles in Spaghetti Western films. He starred in the 1966 film ...

as patient

Reception

The film was Saura's first significant commercial success. ''Peppermint Frappé'' won the

Silver Bear for Best Director The Silver Bear for Best Director () is an award presented annually at the Berlin International Film Festival since 1956. It is given for the best achievement in directing and is chosen by the International Jury from the films in the Competition ...

award at the

18th Berlin International Film Festival The 18th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 21 June to 2 July 1968. The Golden Bear was awarded to '' Who Saw Him Die?'' directed by Jan Troell. Jury The following people were announced as being on the jury for the festiva ...

. It was listed to compete at the

1968 Cannes Film Festival The 21st Cannes Film Festival took place from 10 to 19 May 1968, when it was officially cancelled due to the ongoing turmoil of May 1968 in France. French writer André Chamson served as jury president for the main competition. The festival ope ...

, which was cancelled due to the events of

May 1968 in France May 68 () was a period of widespread protests, strikes, and civil unrest in France that began in May 1968 and became one of the most significant social uprisings in modern European history. Initially sparked by student demonstrations agains ...

Analysis

Being a direct homage to ''

Vertigo Vertigo is a condition in which a person has the sensation that they are moving, or that objects around them are moving, when they are not. Often it feels like a spinning or swaying movement. It may be associated with nausea, vomiting, perspira ...

'', ''Peppermint Frappé'' uses Julián's obsession with the

Hitchcockian Hitchcockian films are those made by various filmmakers, with the styles and themes similar to those of Alfred Hitchcock. Characteristics Elements considered Hitchcockian include: *Climactic plot twist. *The cool platinum blonde. *The presenc ...

blonde woman to illustrate Spain's suppressed fascination with the "foreign" West as well as repressed desires under the nationalist and isolationist regime of

Francisco Franco Francisco Franco Bahamonde (born Francisco Paulino Hermenegildo Teódulo Franco Bahamonde; 4 December 1892 – 20 November 1975) was a Spanish general and dictator who led the Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War), Nationalist forces i ...

. Furthermore the film is an examination of repression and obsession during Franco's era in Spain. Additionally, the character of Julián's nurse, also played by Chaplin, serves as an interesting example of how a passive feminine character can come to control a more assertive chauvinist by manipulating his desires. In ''Peppermint Frappé'', a single actress and a handful of motifs create a chain of associations whose stylistic sophistication belies the seeming simplicity of the film's linear plotline.Narrating The National Identity: Myth, Power, And Dissidence
Saura intended for the film to be an homage to his mentor, director

Luis Buñuel Luis Buñuel Portolés (; 22 February 1900 – 29 July 1983) was a Spanish and Mexican filmmaker who worked in France, Mexico and Spain. He has been widely considered by many film critics, historians and directors to be one of the greatest and ...

, who was from

Home media

''Peppermint Frappé'' is available in Region 2 DVD in Spanish without English subtitles. There is no Region 1 DVD available.

References

External links

* * *
Purdue Essay

{{DEFAULTSORT:Peppermint Frappe 1967 films 1960s psychological thriller films 1960s Spanish films 1960s Spanish-language films Films directed by Carlos Saura Films set in Castilla–La Mancha Films set in country houses Films shot in the province of Cuenca Films with screenplays by Rafael Azcona Spanish psychological thriller films Spanish-language thriller films