YO, ‘EL VAQUILLA’ (I, ‘THE HEIFER’)
dir. José Antonio de la Loma & José Antonio de la Loma Jr., 1985
Spain. 104 mins.
In Spanish with English subtitles.

Based on the life of Juan José Moreno Cuenca (aka ‘The Heifer’) –– who makes a brief appearance in the film –– YO, ‘EL VAQUILLA’ recounts the storied criminal efforts of one of Spain’s most notorious delinquents of the 1970s.

Following up on the success of José Antonio de la Loma’s STREET WARRIORS Trilogy — a series of films that became popular for their lavish fictionalization of Quinqui culture — this collaboration with his son sees the famed Spanish filmmaker stick closer to reality, building a case against institutionally-engendered injustices from the perspective of its eponymous anti-hero. In some ways, the film could be considered a success story for ‘El Vaquilla,’ as the adaptation assisted in creating a more compassionate outlook toward individuals stuck in similar circumstances as its lead. The film’s popularity is also reflected in its soundtrack by Los Chichos, a “Rumba Canalla” classic that led the band to perform across the country, including before the prisoners of Penal de Ocaña where ‘El Vaquilla’ tells his life-story from in the film from behind bars.