Director Alex de la Iglesia has become well-known in his native Spain for his genre pastiches and parodies, quirky characters similar to those from the Coen brothers, and a bizarre, black-as-pitch humor reminiscent of the early films of Peter Jackson. In his film COMMON WEALTH (LA... [More]

Director Alex de la Iglesia has become well-known in his native Spain for his genre pastiches and parodies, quirky characters similar to those from the Coen brothers, and a bizarre, black-as-pitch humor reminiscent of the early films of Peter Jackson. In his film COMMON WEALTH (LA COMUNIDAD), veteran actress Carmen Maura (best known for WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN) plays a real estate agent who discovers a fortune in the apartment of a dead man. Unfortunately, a group of neighbors have been waiting for the man to die so that they can seize the money for themselves. COMMON WEALTH is filled with tongue-in-cheek movie references and director De la Iglesia deftly handles shifts in tone and genre. The film won three Goya Awards, including one for lead actress Maura. [Less]