Ocho apellidos vascos

This Spanish romantic comedy plays on the stereotypes in Spain that consider Andalucians as 'dolce far niente' types while Basques are supposed to be 'frank and rude' and, of course, nearly all members of ETA, a terrorist organization.

A Basque opinion on Andalucians

The story is amusing: an Andalucian guy meets a Basque girl in Sevilla  (Andalucia) and falls in love, although the girl leggged it before he can make a move. He follows her to the Basque country. Since he knows Basques despise Andalucians, he tries to pretend that he is Basque, adopting the local dress, accent etc. At one point, when questioned by his hoped-for father in law, he proves his Basque ancestry by citing 8 pure Basque surnames  of his ancestors, hence the title.

All in all, a good comedy well worth watching.

☆☆☆

Tamara Drewe

This is a light British 2010 comedy about an attractive female writer/journalist, Tamara Drewe, who returns to her native village to oversee the sale of her recently deceased mother's house.

Tamara is played by Gemma Aterton, who also appeared in Gemma Bovery.

Gemma Aterton

Predictably, romantic complications ensue, some of them involving a serial philanderer neighbor and best seller author, whose long suffering wife is played by Tamsin Greig of Black Books, Green Wing, Love Soup and Episodes fame. The wife runs a writer's retreat, which makes for some more interesting characters and developments.

Tamsel Greig

The machinations of two bored teenage girls who have a crush on Tamara's first newly acquired boyfriend, a famous rock star, help to move the plot along.

The story is very amusing and there is a happy ending for almost all of the parties concerned, i.e. most characters find their true love interest.

All in all a better than average romantic comedy which was a joy to watch.

☆☆☆☆