Lazaro, a man from poor origins, is made to go with a blind man by his impoverished mother. Since she could not keep him, the next best thing was to made him go into the world to try to learn something about life and eventually land a position that would allow him to live with the minimum of comfort. The time was the early sixteenth century in Toledo, Spain. The story follows Lazaro's adventures from childhood to early manhood.
The boy grows up but has not been able to get anything decent. After the blind man, he is taken by a priest that is such a miser, he locks the food in a trunk, keeping the key around his neck to prevent anyone from stealing from him. After a fiasco with this holy man, Lazaro is discovered by an influential friar who sees in the young man as ripe for his sexual desires, something that Lazaro repels.
Finding a good master takes Lazaro to try a few positions until his good fortune brings him to the Arch Priest's attention. First, Lazaro becomes the salesman for the cleric, but he asks his boss to recommend him for the position of town crier, that will guarantee him a steady job and a chance to work for the crown. The Arch Priest has another reason in mind, he wants Lazaro to marry his lover, Teresa, as the poor man will serve as the perfect way for him to keep on seeing the beautiful woman, now a married woman.
"Lazaro de Tormes" is a picaresque anonymous novel that has survived the passing of the centuries. Brought to the screen by one of Spain's most beloved actors, Fernando Fernan Gomez, who directed with the help of Jose Luis Garcia Sanchez. The film was filmed right where the original takes place. The elaborate production relied on Luis Ramirez's art direction, with an excellent cinematography from veteran cameraman Javier Salmones who captures those dark interiors in all its glory. The musical score is credited to Roque Banos.
Rafael Alvarez plays the adult Lazaro with panache. He gives the character what was needed. Karra Elejalde, another busy actor in the Spanish cinema portrays the Arch Priest. Lovely Beatriz Rico is seen as Teresa. Francisco Rabal, completely disfigured after his horrible accident made a good blind man. The large cast blends well and followed the instructions of Mr. Fernan Gomez, who knew well what he wanted to show his audience.
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