The Circuit

by John Hopwell
The smart money's is on Woody Allen's "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" becoming one of the highest-grossing films in Spain next year.

When Allen arrived in Barcelona this June to shoot the pic, he was greeted like a rock star. Now, with "VCB" in post, Spaniards are bating their breath about what the revered Woodman can have made of their country.

Well, some early answers were at least suggested at the American Film Market this week, where sales company Wild Bunch screened a trailer.

In "Match Point," Allen skewered the English class system. "VCB," if the three-minute trailer is anything to go on, nails the warm Mediterranean sensuality of Barcelona, in its palette - the warm golden stonework of Barcelona, the lush greens of northern Asturias - its background - Gaudi's baroque Sagrada Familia cathedral is much to the fore, the sexual liberality of its characters, and the sex scenes.

Two is particular may be much remarked upon: Javier Bardem takes Scarlett Johansson on a carpet; Penelope Cruz and Johansson snogging in a photography dark room.

"VCB" may chart the vagaries of lust and love: it's certainly impossible to know if the painter played by Bardem ends up with -  Cruz, Johansson, or even Hall; or nobody.    

For the record, and for so Spaniards can unbate their breath a touch, "VCB" does now have a plot synopsis, from Woody Allen himself:

"Vicky and Crisina, two young American girls, go to spend the summer in Barcelona. Vicky (Rebecca Hall) is straight-laced and about to be married. Cristina (Scarlett Johanssson) is a free-spirit and very sexually adventurous. They meet a flamboyant, Spanish artist (Javier Bardem) and his beautiful but insane ex-wife (Penelope Cruz). They all become involved in romantic adventures that are either hilarious or harrowing, depending on your point of view. Barcelona is
seen as a very beautiful, romantic city like New York was in the movie 'Manhatten.'"

Photo: Woody Allen and Scarlett Johansson at the 2005 Cannes fest for "Match Point." Photo by Jeff Vespa/Wireimage.