Left leaning, though somewhat apolitical, cabaret artists Carmela (Carmen Maura) and Paulino (Andres Pajares) agree to entertain the Republican troops at the Argon front during the Spanish Civil War. With them is Gustavete (Gabino Diego), an adolescent boy they rescued from a bombing attack earlier in the war. After stealing gasoline to escape the fighting, they are captured on their way to Valencia by the Fascists. When Gustavete, who now forms part of their act, mistakenly tells the Nationalists that they were coming from a town controlled by the Communists, they are imprisoned. Certain to be shot, they are given a chance to live when a former theater director, now a Lieutenant with the Italian troops fighting along with the Germans in support of Franco, asks them to put on a show glorifying Mussolini and Hitler.
Taken from a stage play by Jose Sanchis Sinisterra, Saura expands the action to show the bombed and ruined towns, but this is the film is still more of a character drama than a war film. Although he clearly favors the left, Saura tries to give the Fascists some identifiable human emotions. The title, AY, CARMELA!, comes from a song that was very popular with the Republican troops.
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