In 1931, a young soldier deserts from the army and falls into a country farm, where he is welcomed by the owner due to his political ideas. Manolo has four daughters, Fernando likes all of them and they like him, so he has to decide which one to love.
Ratings
Curator score: 6.2/10
IMDb: 7.1/10
Letterboxd: 3.60/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
TMDB: 6.7/10
Director
Fernando Trueba
Production
Animatógrafo, Sogepaq, Lolafilms, Fernando Trueba PC
Cast
Jorge Sanz, Penélope Cruz, Miriam Díaz-Aroca, Ariadna Gil, Maribel Verdú, Fernando Fernán Gómez, Gabino Diego, María Galiana, Michel Galabru, Agustín González, Chus Lampreave, Mary Carmen Ramírez, Juan José Otegui, Jesús Bonilla, Joan Potau, Félix Cubero, Marciano De la Fuente Rodríguez, José Antonio Sacristán, Manuel Huete, Luís Zagalo
Curator Review
Verdict
A warm, flirtatious romantic comedy with political undercurrents and a nostalgic, pre-Civil War Spain setting. Its charm comes from the ensemble chemistry, playful sexual politics, and a light but bittersweet sense of historical transition.
Best for
Viewers who like ensemble romances with multiple love interests
Fans of period comedies with a nostalgic tone
People interested in pre-Civil War Spanish history as backdrop
Audiences open to queer-adjacent, gender-playful humor
Skip if
You want a tightly plotted romance with one central couple
You dislike broad farce or episodic storytelling
You prefer historically serious dramas over playful period pieces
You are sensitive to dated racial or gender humor
Overview
Belle Époque is a breezy, sensual period comedy that treats desire like a social weather system: everyone is falling for everyone, and the countryside becomes a temporary utopia of flirtation, confusion, and possibility. The film’s easygoing structure lets the ensemble chemistry do most of the work, and that looseness is part of its appeal. It feels both mischievous and affectionate, always aware that this brief moment of freedom sits on the edge of a much darker historical future.
Worth noting
What gives it staying power is the mix of romantic farce and political atmosphere. The arrival of the Republic hangs over the story like a promise, giving the comedy a nostalgic charge that makes the film feel larger than its setup. The gender play and sexual openness are especially memorable, even when the humor is broad or of its time.
Bottom line
It is not a precision-engineered romance, and some viewers will find its tonal shifts or dated elements distracting. But if you enjoy period films that are playful, sunlit, and a little unruly, it delivers a distinctive blend of charm, longing, and social change.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Nikita Rokan (3★) · 336 likes
"Little Women" in Spanish but one guy nailed all of the girls.
sage (4★) · 238 likes
the scene with violeta in the barn where they’re both in drag...cinema
jonaybeltran (4★) · 226 likes
Más allá de la comedia, la magia de Belle Époque es hacerme sentir nostalgia por una España que no llegué a conocer. El advenimiento de la República impregnaba de optimismo el espíritu y no hacía presagiar lo que ocurriría unos años más tarde.
El maquiavelismo de Rocío (Maribel Verdú), la picardía enmascarada de Clara (Miriam Díaz-Aroca), la virilidad de Violeta (Ariadna Gil) y la ingenuidad de Luz (Penélope Cruz) se prestan a unas dinámicas divertidísimas. Y Fernando Fernán Gómez está… more
LuNFurter (4★) · 215 likes
im always up for some unexpected lgbt content
maría🐸 (4★) · 156 likes
violeta, tu madre tiene razón no necesitas a ningun hombre y yo estoy dispuesta a ser la chica que de verdad necesitas porque por ti hago todo lo que quieras