The second full-length feature by the maker of the surprising Vacas is mysterious, not always mild and made with great virtuosity. Julio Medem did not avoid repeatedly wrong½footing the audience.The film opens spectacularly. A man, Jota, tries to find the courage to throw himself off a pier into the sea. At that moment, a motorbike fails to take a bend and ends up on the beach with its rider. Jota offers to help the girl and notices that the accident has made her lose her memory. He goes to the hospital with her, pretends to be her boyfriend and says her name is Lisa. In the ensuing story, he tries to maintain this lie to the bitter end. He tells Lisa that they have lived together for years and takes her in when she is released from hospital. Jota takes her on holiday to the camp site ‘La ardilla roja’ (‘The Red Squirrel’). There however his story gets increasingly improbable. Obtrusive neighbours undermine the lie and the girl turns out to have a husband who is looking for her.The former pop musician Jota tries to shape the girl with the blank slate to match his own fantasy. He plays a perverted game with Lisa. He invests all his time and energy in reliving a passionate love affair which never really existed.
