The Ages of Lulu

Fifteen-year-old Lulú grows up in a home where affection is scarce, leaving her with a gnawing sense of emotional hunger. At a family friend's party he invites her to a show and, through his attention, she steps into a world of sexual awakening for the first time. Time passes and Pablo and Lulú marry, and he creates a stillness around her with doors closed to the outside, routines of control that keep life predictable. But Lulú begins to feel the walls closing in. She slips into bars and shadowy neighborhoods chasing sensations she has not allowed herself to experience before. In pursuing danger and novelty she tests limits, craving autonomy even as desire unsettles the life she was given.

Directed by Bigas Luna, this 1990 drama adapts Almudena Grandes's novel Las edades de Lulú, a bold cross of erotic coming of age and social critique. The film helped establish Luna as a director willing to push boundaries and to blend sensuality with social observation. It became a touchstone in the wave of Spanish cinema that confronted sexuality head on, influencing later filmmakers.

The movie sparked intense discussion about female sexuality and autonomy in cinema, provoking debates about censorship and consent. It drew international attention to Luna's visually daring style and to Francesca Neri's fearless performance. Over time it has been recognized for challenging taboos while shaping how European art cinema treats desire. Its provocative approach also sparked discussions about female desire and freedom in art house circuits beyond Spain.

Critics were divided, with some praising the raw honesty of the lead performance and others calling the material sensationalist. Core themes include awakening, control, and the friction between confinement and self determination, all rendered with a kinetic pace, bold color, and a mood that lingers after the credits. The film thus remains a touchstone for debates over censorship and the portrayal of sexuality in cinema.