Dir: Joaquin Oristrell. Spain. 2001. 116mins.

Writer-director Joaquin Oristrell is not the first person to make a movie spoofing the world of movie-making, but he has succeeded in creating a fresh, fun and unpretentious film which - were it not for its Spanish language and lack of international stars - could have great mainstream potential abroad. The combination of these factors, plus much local humour and the film's lengthy running time, will probably spell more TV than theatrical cross-over internationally. With best film, script and actress prizes from the Malaga Spanish Film Festival in June, No Shame did solid box office business in its home territory this summer. Its screening in Toronto could help revive international sales efforts.

In 1979, Isabel (Forque) and Mario (Gimenez-Cacho) spent the most romantic 17 hours of their lives together, which resulted - unbeknownst to him - in a daughter. Twenty-one years later, a script written by Mario, now an accomplished film director, falls into the hands of Isabel, a just as accomplished acting instructor. Sparks fly when the two reunite though neither will admit the lingering attraction. Mario decides to sit in on Isabel's classes, ostensibly to cast some of her students in his next film. His presence prompts some nasty sparring among the ambitious wannabe actors, as everyone and their mother (literally, in one student's case) vies for a role in the film.

Oristrell is best known for co-scripting a series of 1990s comedies with director Manuel Gomez Pereira which were plainly targeted at the Spanish mainstream. Satirical without biting too hard and relatively wholesome in its humour, No Shame feels akin to those earlier works. A gifted writer, Oristrell - who here shares script credits with three others, including Spanish acting coach Cristina Rota - still seems to be seeking his own voice as a director with this third effort. Some tricks - particularly his occasional use of a split screen - don't flow naturally within the narrative. Very attentive viewers may also catch a visible editing flaw or two. It could also, at almost two hours, use some trimming.

The film's younger cast is made up of new talents in a set of promising performances. But it is the two utterly likeable leads, veterans Forque (La Vida Alegre) and Gimenez-Cacho (Cronos), who carry the film.

Prod cos: Tornasol Film, Cartel, Ensueno Films.
Int'l sales: KWA.
Prods: Gerardo Herrero, Eduardo Campoy.
Scr: Joaquin Oristrell, Dominic Harari, Teresa de Pelegri, Cristina Rota.
DoP: Jaume Peracaula.
Prod des: Soledad Sesena.
Ed: Miguel A Santamaria.
Music: Jose Carlos Gomez.
Main cast: Veronica Forque, Daniel Gimenez Cacho, Carmen Balague, Elvira Lindo, Rosa Maria Sarda, Jorge Sanz.