Spain
2005
89 minutes
Director: Chus Gutierriez

A hilarious and historically accurate period piece set in the big-haired, shoulder-padded ‘80s, a young virgin finds herself immersed in a counter culture fueled by hot music and sexual expression beyond her wildest dreams.

A naïve, innocent girl stumbles upon a wild world of rock and sex in this music-filled romp. Sara, still a virgin, stumbles her way to the underground nightclub El Calentito, owned by a sassy transsexual. The venue plays host to some of the hottest up-and-coming musical groups including Las Sioux, an all-girl rock band fronted by Joan Jett look-a-like Carmen, who happens to be a lesbian, and Leo, who is always in some state of undress so her breasts can run free. In the politically conservative climate of the Franco regime, the club has become a safe haven for all forms of sexual expression: gay, bisexual and “try-anything” sexual. Sara gets invited to perform with Las Sioux and, on the night of her scheduled debut, February 23, 1981, an uprising occurs causing the government to collapse and a thrilling night of wild, uninhibited celebrations explodes, leaving the country of Spain in a tizzy. Set during the birth of the “La Movida” movement in Spain from which directors like Almodóvar and music groups like Fangoria found artistic inspiration, El Calentito is a raucous, high energy comedy that is out, loud and in your face. An effervescent roller coaster ride that will definitely be nostalgic for some (yep, I wore eyeliner back then) and influence a new generation of queers to take to the stage and kick butt. (Spanish with English subtitles)
– Lewis Tice