{image1}According to co-writers and directors Juan Luis Iborra and Yolanda Garcia Serrano, their new film, "Kilometer Zero," is "a mid-summer afternoon's dream, full of fairy godmothers." You could add that it's also a tasty, if not terribly satisfying, snack.
Centering on Madrid's central point, the so-called kilometer zero sidewalk marker in the Puerta del Sol, from which distances are measured, "Kilometer Zero" is a film about chance meetings, life-changing encounters and the power of love.
Pedro (Carlos Fuentes) is a small-town filmmaker who arrives in Madrid dreaming of being a director. He's to meet his sister's friend who will let him stay at her apartment until he gets settled.
Tatiana (Elisa Matilla) is a low-end prostitute who hopes her clients will pay her and not beat her up.
Marga (Concha Velasco) is a woman who regrets giving up her son for adoption 26 years earlier and lives in a loveless marriage.
Silvia (Merce Pons) is a 35-year-old actress who needs a break.
Gerardo (Georges Corraface) is a successful theater director headed for a casting call when he has a traffic accident in the Puerta del Sol.
Mario (Tristan Ulloa) is a waiter struggling to open his own business and being egged into marriage by his girlfriend Amor (Silke), who has some awful luck. Her younger sister Roma (Cora Tiedra) has her sights set on her sister's future husband.
Miguel (Jesus Cabrero) is a vain male prostitute who shares an apartment with his gay friend Benjamin (Miguel Garcia).
Sergio (Alberto San Juan) is a meek office worker looking to sow his wild oats before his impending marriage.
Bruno (Victor Ullate Jr.) is an aspiring dancer who loves sex and hates commitment.
Basically, combinations of these folks - most of whom have never met and therefore don't know what the others look like - arrange to meet at 6 p.m. at kilometer zero. When almost everyone ends up leaving with the wrong person, mayhem should ensue.
But, wisely, the directors eschew laugh-out-loud farce for somewhat deeper explorations of human nature and romance. Almost all of the characters are struggling emotionally in some way and they hope their trysts will help sort out their lives. In some cases they do, in some they don't. Far be it from us to tell you which ones are which. You should see the film, as it's an enjoyable one. You just shouldn't expect too much or you'll be disappointed.
"Kilometer Zero" opens Fri., Oct. 10 at Landmark's Oriental Theatre.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
