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theory

Jamon Jamon: Underwear, Bullfighting, and... Subverted Sci-Fi?

Okay, so hear me out. I watched Jamon Jamon (1992) last night, and while on the surface it's like, super Spanish and not at all sci-fi, I'm convinced there's a layer of, like, hyperreality that puts it in a weird genre space. Think about it: Everything is pushed to 11. The passion? Maxed. The desperation? Through the roof. The ham? Absolutely everywhere. Raul, the bullfighter, is practically a mythical figure, a god of machismo. And José Luis' mom is a straight-up evil corporate overlord, just, you know, dealing in lingerie instead of starships. Specifically, the scene where Raul is literally riding the mechanical bull, dripping with sweat, while Silvia watches in a trance... that's not just a tawdry sex scene. It's a battle for the future! Jose Luis is the 'modern man,' weak and tied to his mother's business, while Raul represents the primal, untamed id. Silvia choosing between them is a choice between a sterile, corporate future and a chaotic, passionate (and probably short) existence. The whole 'ham as a phallic symbol' thing, yeah, it's obvious, but it's also so relentlessly committed that it becomes almost... alien. Maybe I'm just thinking too much after a late night, but the exaggerated tropes, the borderline absurd situations... it feels like the director (uh, whoever that is) was building a world where human desires and societal pressures are magnified to the point of breaking. It's like a Philip K. Dick story, but instead of rogue androids, you have a dude fighting for his girlfriend's honor with a leg of Serrano ham. Seriously, I know it sounds crazy, but give it a watch and tell me I'm not COMPLETELY off my rocker. Plus, young Javier Bardem? He was basically born to play Raul. Has anyone else picked up on this kinda thing, maybe a similar thing in other films with unexpected genre vibes? I'm curious to hear what you all think/if I'm insane.

kevinmovies
about 2 months ago
7 comments
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