The boutique

Ricardo is an executive who has great success among women and practically behaves like a playboy. His wife, Carmen, a childless attractive housewife, feels he doesn’t pay enough attention to her and seeks her mother’s comfort. Her mother suggests changing her behaviour if she doesn’t want to lose her husband forever, or her mind. The mother’s plan consists of taking advantage of a medical examination, to find out whether either spouse is sterile, and get a diagnose saying that Carmen has a fatal disease that will inevitably cause her death. After hearing the terrible news, Ricardo concentrates on his wife, showering her with attention.

However, from that moment on, Carmen undergoes a transformation and stops being the submissive wife to become an aggressive person who abuses and ignores her husband. As if this were not enough, she decides to go back to work and asks Ricardo to open a boutique for her. He agrees despite his reluctance to invest all the money needed. After the inauguration of her new shop, Carmen becomes more independent and self-assured, and starts to flirt with an old friend of the couple’s. When Ricardo discovers his wife’s affairs and her fake disease, he decides to plan an accident to kill her, but fate is against him and he becomes his own victim.

Production: Cesáreo González Producciones Cinematográficas, S.A. (Madrid) – Argentina Sono Films S.A.C.I. (Buenos Aires).

Director: Luis García Berlanga.

Story, screenplay and dialogues: Rafael Azcona and Luis García Berlanga.

Director of Photography: Américo Hoss (B/W).

Music: Astor Piazzolla.

Editor: José Luis Matesanz and Jorge Gárate.

Set Decorator: Gori Muñoz.

Producer: Cesáreo González.

Executive Producer: Marciano de la Fuente.

Production Manager: Ricardo Nieto.

Assistant Director: Horacio Guisado. Continuity: Ricardo Feliu. Second Cameraman: Aníbal di Salvo and José García. Assistant Cameramen: Pedro Bor and Marcelo Paiz. Set Dresser: María J. Bertolo and Jorge Sarudiansky. Costume Design: Sebastián Cánovas. Make-up Artist: María Lassaga. Hair Stylist: Uldarisa Carrasco. Sound Director: Mario Frezia. Sound Manager: Jorge Castronuovo. Film Studios: Argentina Sono Film (Buenos Aires). Laboratory: Cinematiraje Riera (Madrid) – Alex (Buenos Aires). Soundtrack: Sincronía (Madrid). Sound System: R.C.A. Sound Recording.

Cast

Sonia Bruno (Carmen), Rodolfo Bebán (Ricardo Calaza), Ana María Campoy (Ala Fuentes, Carmen’s mother), Osvaldo Miranda (Martínez), Lautaro Murúa (Carlos), Marilina Ross (Pity), Juan Carlos Altavista (Mariano), Darío Vittori (doctor), Javier Portales (bank clerk), Paula Marciel (Mrs. Martínez), Juan Carlos Calabro (victim), Doris del Valle, Alfonso Estela, Mario Savino, Lili Vicet, Emilio Losada, Perla Caron, Susana Pisto, Pacheco Fernández, Susana Decarli, Reina del Carmen, Perla Peretz.