Two students (Jordi Molla , Ernesto Alterio) are arrested for painting revolutionary graffiti on the university wall , being condemned hard eight-year prison sentences . They flee from the camp in Valle de Caidos and escape with two American girls (Allyson Smith , Hedy Burress) , posing as rich young men who are showing Spain to two tourists . Meanwhile , they are pursued by a Franquist high-command (Juan Echanove) and his chauffeur (Alex Angulo) .This pursuit comedy contains lots of humor , entertainment and amusement . This is a slightly funny film with entertaining events , giggles , emotion and a love story . The film moves in fits and starts most of which would be desirable, with more traps the viewer resists any kind, and some moments of enjoyment and others quite a few embarrassing . The flick gives a short description about lives of people in the post-Spanish Civil War . This is a typical Spanish comedy from the 90s with the usual ingredients such as enjoyable humor , social habits , relationships among people and , of course , dealing with Spanish Civil War or Franco period , a familiar theme about a fratricide war and its consequences , impossible to forget to our cinema . The roles in this film are all lovable despite being rather pathetic and silly . The main issue about the continuous meetings and ongoing squabbles between the escapees and the pursuers is so repetitive and that makes it a bit boring and the most part results to be rich in absurdities and implausibilities . The picture attempts to spread optimism about the events of life , friendship and love , with its amusing sides but also including some risks . The film explores the relationship between Spanish and Anglo Saxon youth, including language problems , a topic also treated by the director in other films such as ¨Linea Del Cielo¨ , ¨Efecto Mariposa¨ and ¨Al Sur Granada¨ . Sympathetic performances from protagonist quartet who provide a considerable boost to the result , such as Jordi Mollà as Tomás , Ernesto Alterio as Jaime , Hedy Burress as Kathy , and Allison Smith as Susan . Agreeable support cast gives good acting as Juan Echanove as Víctor Marquina , Josep Maria Pou as Roa , Samuel Le Bihan as Michel , Álex Angulo as Máximo and Pepón Nieto as Velasco . A well acted, so so crafted, movie that should be considered as a return in form to the typical Spanish comedy of yesteryear . The picture achieved Goya prizes for Best New Actor , Ernesto Alterio , and Best Screenplay Adapted , Fernando Colomo . Atmospheric and appropriate musical score by the notorious Juan Bardem , a magnificent composer and deemed to be one of the best Spanish musicians . Evocative as well as colorful cinematography by Nestor Calvo . The motion picture was professionally written and directed Fernando Colomo . Fernando Colomo was born in Madrid and is a talented and versatile writer/director who has made a vast array of often solid and entertaining films in all kind of genres as comedy, drama and one science fiction movie (1985 El caballero del Dragón) in a career that spans over 30 years . Especially known for directing comedies such as 1987 La Vida Alegre , 1988 Miss Caribe , 1989 Bajarse al Moro , 1993 Rosa Rosae , 1994 Alegre Ma Non Troppo , 1995 Efecto Mariposa . And in the 2000s directed Al Sur Granada (2003) , El Próximo Oriente (2006), Rivales (2008) and La Banda Picasso (2012) .

This film is one of the best political dramas I have seen - totally engrossing story about two students who are imprisoned for 'mischief making' and standing up against Franco's regime.The men are imprisoned, but are later rescued by an underground resistance movement. It is this that puts Anos barbaros in a class of its own. The relationships that emerge both before, during and after the imprisonment make for compelling viewing.There are a number of very good moments - the Canadian and American girls who help the Spanish lads, an over the top, flamboyant musical producer add to the humour and tension.We are not allowed to forget about the brutality evident in Spain at the time - there are moments akin to Fred Zinneman's Julia towards the end of the film.The film makes its point well, but the overall feeling isn't one of intense heaviness: the humour of characters and situations, the relationships between the characters and the telling differences between Spanish and American make this a film WELL worth seeing.Superb

Despite the ominous political overtones of the opening scenes, where two university students are given harsh eight-year prison sentences for anti-Franco graffiti, the movie eventually develops into a comedy as two American girls pretending to be rich tourists in a red convertible become their accomplices in an escape attempt. Franco's chief of security forces, who was instrumental in getting the harsh sentences imposed, keeps popping up in various scenes throughout the film.

This is a film about the lost years, about politics about franco dictatorship, but viewed from the point of two philosophy students that are jailed casue they painted a graffiti by a "cop" who hates them. They escape helped by two young american girls, this film is the story of their escape. It is based on real facts. The graffitis still on the wall of philosophy university in Madrid