Fanny Pelopaja
Encyclopedia
Fanny Strawhair (a.k.a: Á coups de Crosse) is a 1984
crime thriller film, directed by Vicente Aranda
and starring Fanny Cottençon
and Bruno Cremer
. The film, a Spanish
and French
production, was based on the novel Prótesis, written by Andreu Martin. The plot follows an attractive blonde outcast who devises an elaborate plan to avenge the humiliation she suffered at the hands of a policeman who killed her boyfriend and smashed her teeth with the butt of a gun.
A flash back tells the story of Fanny and Andrés three years before. He caught her stealing in a department store in which he worked as an undercover security officer. Although, she paid for the stolen items and was let free without charges, Andrés, a corrupt policeman, pressed Fanny to have sex with him. A married man with a wife he despised and two teange children who do not pay attention to him in spite of his protestations, Andrés quickly became obsessed with Fanny and they met regularly in the same hotel room for casual sex. An unwilling love- hate relationship built up between them. Andrés willingly guided Fanny in a risky plan aim to help, Manuel, nickname the cat, Fanny's boyfriend, to escape from the hospital where he was recuperating after being injured in jail.
Fanny smuggled a gun in the hospital room between her legs. With the gun in hand Fanny and Manuel managed to escape from the hospital, but they killed two policemen. They found refuge from the authorities in an abandoned house in the outskirts of the city. There, a dispute between Andrés and Manuel ended up when in a fit of jealousy the violent Andrés killed, Manuel shooting him in the head. Fanny, grieve stricken told Andrés how much she hated him. Trying to make her stop recriminating him Andrés brutally assaulted her knocking out her teeth. From then on she would have to wear dentures.
Because of his violation of police regulations in his abusive treatment of Fanny, Andrés was thrown out of the police force and spent some time in a mental institution recuperating from a nervous breakdown and now he works as a guard for an armored car company.
Back in Barcelona Fanny is reunited with her old friends: Julián and his girlfriend, La Nena, Manuel's sister. Their plan is to rob the armored car that Andrés is guarding. While Julián is interested only in the money, both Fanny and La Nena want to see Andrés death. Her plans work out, and she exacts revenge on Andrés, but does not kill him. A mistake, because he is soon back in full force against her and her companions. After brutally beaten Julián and threaten to rape La Nena with his gun, Julián reveals Fanny's whereabouts. She has been waiting for Andrés all along in the same hotel room where they used to get together in the past. When he arrives, she is ready for him. They aim each other with their guns but do not dare to shoot. When the police arrives they find them naked in bed. He is death stabbed in the back by her. Fanny is still alive, but in catatonic state from which she never recovers. Ultimately she is institutionalized in a mental asylum.
Aranda liked the book but found difficult to write the screenplay. The novel portrays a violent relationship between two men. Aranda had been uncomfortable tackling the subject of homosexuality in his previous film Cambio de Sexo
therefore he decided to transform the male protagonist into a female and make the story of love and revenge between a heterosexual couple.
The violence, bluntly expressed in the novel, was also tuned down in the film adaptation. The author of the original book, Andreu Martin agreed with the changes made and was pleased with the film adaptation.
Casting the female lead, Aranda considered Berta Socuéllamos, who had had her breakthrough in films with a similar role in Carlos Saura
's Deprisa, Deprisa
. He also had in mind Victoria Abril
, his favorite actress, for the starring role. However the French producers of the film imposed two French actors in the lead to help the marketability of the film in France. Aranda had a casting session in Paris and ultimately choose Fanny Cottençon
and Bruno Cremer
for the two main roles.
The film had a budget of 76 million pesetas with 70% Spanish capital and 30% of the cost covered by the French production company.
Shot in Barcelona
with Spanish supporting cast and crew, the production went smoothly and the director was happy with the actors in the lead who were dubbed in Spanish for the local version of the film. However, dissatisfied with the French cut and dubbing of the film, done without his oversight, Aranda tried unsuccessfully to stopped the premiere of the film in France
, where it was released with the title Á coups de crosse.
, the actress playing the lead and from her bleached blond hair.
1984 in film
-Events:* The Walt Disney Company founds Touchstone Pictures to release movies with subject matter deemed inappropriate for the Disney name.* Tri-Star Pictures, a joint venture of Columbia Pictures, HBO, and CBS, releases its first film....
crime thriller film, directed by Vicente Aranda
Vicente Aranda
Vicente Aranda , is a Spanish film director, screenwriter and producer.Due to his refined and personal style, he is one of the most renowned Spanish filmmakers. He started as a founded member of the Barcelona School of Film and became known for bringing contemporary Spanish novels to life on the...
and starring Fanny Cottençon
Fanny Cottençon
Fanny Cottençon is a French actress, born in Port-Gentil, Gabon. In 1983 she won the César Award for Best Supporting Actress for her effort in the movie L'étoile du nord.-Select filmography:...
and Bruno Cremer
Bruno Cremer
Bruno Jean Marie Crémer was a French actor born in Saint-Mandé, Val-de-Marne, who spent a part of his career on stage, but who also found success in the cinema and on television.- Biography :...
. The film, a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
production, was based on the novel Prótesis, written by Andreu Martin. The plot follows an attractive blonde outcast who devises an elaborate plan to avenge the humiliation she suffered at the hands of a policeman who killed her boyfriend and smashed her teeth with the butt of a gun.
Plot
Estefania Sánchez, known as Fanny Pelopaja for her bleach blond hair, is a cold-blooded woman who has been recently released from jail after servicing a three year sentence. She has built up a new life for herself working in a gas station. However, she has been waiting all this time to take revenge from a corrupt and brutal police officer, Andrés Gallego. A phone call from one of her old life cronies informs her that Andrés is working in Barcelona as security guard for a car armed company. Without a doubt and in a hurry, Fanny leaves everything behind and take the road back to Barcelona.A flash back tells the story of Fanny and Andrés three years before. He caught her stealing in a department store in which he worked as an undercover security officer. Although, she paid for the stolen items and was let free without charges, Andrés, a corrupt policeman, pressed Fanny to have sex with him. A married man with a wife he despised and two teange children who do not pay attention to him in spite of his protestations, Andrés quickly became obsessed with Fanny and they met regularly in the same hotel room for casual sex. An unwilling love- hate relationship built up between them. Andrés willingly guided Fanny in a risky plan aim to help, Manuel, nickname the cat, Fanny's boyfriend, to escape from the hospital where he was recuperating after being injured in jail.
Fanny smuggled a gun in the hospital room between her legs. With the gun in hand Fanny and Manuel managed to escape from the hospital, but they killed two policemen. They found refuge from the authorities in an abandoned house in the outskirts of the city. There, a dispute between Andrés and Manuel ended up when in a fit of jealousy the violent Andrés killed, Manuel shooting him in the head. Fanny, grieve stricken told Andrés how much she hated him. Trying to make her stop recriminating him Andrés brutally assaulted her knocking out her teeth. From then on she would have to wear dentures.
Because of his violation of police regulations in his abusive treatment of Fanny, Andrés was thrown out of the police force and spent some time in a mental institution recuperating from a nervous breakdown and now he works as a guard for an armored car company.
Back in Barcelona Fanny is reunited with her old friends: Julián and his girlfriend, La Nena, Manuel's sister. Their plan is to rob the armored car that Andrés is guarding. While Julián is interested only in the money, both Fanny and La Nena want to see Andrés death. Her plans work out, and she exacts revenge on Andrés, but does not kill him. A mistake, because he is soon back in full force against her and her companions. After brutally beaten Julián and threaten to rape La Nena with his gun, Julián reveals Fanny's whereabouts. She has been waiting for Andrés all along in the same hotel room where they used to get together in the past. When he arrives, she is ready for him. They aim each other with their guns but do not dare to shoot. When the police arrives they find them naked in bed. He is death stabbed in the back by her. Fanny is still alive, but in catatonic state from which she never recovers. Ultimately she is institutionalized in a mental asylum.
Cast
- Fanny CottençonFanny CottençonFanny Cottençon is a French actress, born in Port-Gentil, Gabon. In 1983 she won the César Award for Best Supporting Actress for her effort in the movie L'étoile du nord.-Select filmography:...
... Estefania Sánchez, "Fanny Pelopaja" - Bruno CremerBruno CremerBruno Jean Marie Crémer was a French actor born in Saint-Mandé, Val-de-Marne, who spent a part of his career on stage, but who also found success in the cinema and on television.- Biography :...
... Andrés Gallego - Ian Sera ...Manuel, " the cat"
- Francisco AlgoraFrancisco AlgoraFrancisco Algora is a Spanish actor. He has appeared in 95 films and television shows since 1972. He starred in the 1973 film Habla, mudita, which was entered into the 23rd Berlin International Film Festival.-Selected filmography:...
... Julián - Berta Cabré ... La Nena
Production
Spanish producer Carlos Durán approached director Vicente Aranda showing him the novel Prótesis, written by Andreu Matín, with the idea of making a film out of it.Aranda liked the book but found difficult to write the screenplay. The novel portrays a violent relationship between two men. Aranda had been uncomfortable tackling the subject of homosexuality in his previous film Cambio de Sexo
Cambio de Sexo
Sex Change is a 1976 Spanish film, written and directed by Vicente Aranda. It stars Victoria Abril. The film dramatizes the story of a young effeminate boy, who moves to the city to explore his desire to become a woman.-Synopsis :...
therefore he decided to transform the male protagonist into a female and make the story of love and revenge between a heterosexual couple.
The violence, bluntly expressed in the novel, was also tuned down in the film adaptation. The author of the original book, Andreu Martin agreed with the changes made and was pleased with the film adaptation.
Casting the female lead, Aranda considered Berta Socuéllamos, who had had her breakthrough in films with a similar role in Carlos Saura
Carlos Saura
Carlos Saura Atarés is a Spanish film director and photographer.-Early life:Born into a family of artists , he developed his artistic sense in childhood as a photography enthusiast.He obtained his directing diploma in Madrid in 1957 at the Institute of Cinema Research and Studies...
's Deprisa, Deprisa
Deprisa, Deprisa
Deprisa, Deprisa is a 1981 Spanish film directed by Carlos Saura. In the English-speaking world, it has been released under the titles Faster, Faster and Fast, Fast. It tells the story of a gang of juvenile delinquents.-Plot:...
. He also had in mind Victoria Abril
Victoria Abril
Victoria Abril is a Spanish film actress. She is best known to international audiences for her performance in the movie ¡Átame! by director Pedro Almodóvar....
, his favorite actress, for the starring role. However the French producers of the film imposed two French actors in the lead to help the marketability of the film in France. Aranda had a casting session in Paris and ultimately choose Fanny Cottençon
Fanny Cottençon
Fanny Cottençon is a French actress, born in Port-Gentil, Gabon. In 1983 she won the César Award for Best Supporting Actress for her effort in the movie L'étoile du nord.-Select filmography:...
and Bruno Cremer
Bruno Cremer
Bruno Jean Marie Crémer was a French actor born in Saint-Mandé, Val-de-Marne, who spent a part of his career on stage, but who also found success in the cinema and on television.- Biography :...
for the two main roles.
The film had a budget of 76 million pesetas with 70% Spanish capital and 30% of the cost covered by the French production company.
Shot in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
with Spanish supporting cast and crew, the production went smoothly and the director was happy with the actors in the lead who were dubbed in Spanish for the local version of the film. However, dissatisfied with the French cut and dubbing of the film, done without his oversight, Aranda tried unsuccessfully to stopped the premiere of the film in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, where it was released with the title Á coups de crosse.
Title
Prótesis, the original title of the book, which makes reference to dentures that the main character has to wear, was avoided having little commercial appeal. Fanny Strawhair, the final title given to the film, came from the name of Fanny CottençonFanny Cottençon
Fanny Cottençon is a French actress, born in Port-Gentil, Gabon. In 1983 she won the César Award for Best Supporting Actress for her effort in the movie L'étoile du nord.-Select filmography:...
, the actress playing the lead and from her bleached blond hair.