Argentine sex comedy

The Argentine sex comedy, locally known as comedia picaresca, was a genre of sexual comedy films produced in Argentina that was especially popular between the 1970s and 1980s. The genre gained popularity in Argentina, particularly during and after the era of the country's military junta's regime and censorship ended with a permanent return to democracy in 1983. Among the popular actors who participated in these films were, initially, Jorge Porcel and Alberto Olmedo, who formed a popular acting duo in the 1970s and 1980s, until Olmedo's death on March 5, 1988.

History

1963's "la cigarra no es un bicho" is often credited as the first Argentine comedy film with sex as a central plot element.
Aries Cinematográfica Argentina started producing sex comedies in 1965; the production company later proved instrumental in developing the genre in the South American country. Their first sex comedy was 1966's "Hotel alojamiento", directed by Fernando Ayala.
The sex comedy film industry in Argentina gained steam early in the 1970s. In fact, some of the early Argentine sex comedies were financed by the military government themselves, since they realized these popular films were good business for them as the public would go watch the movies, making them money.
1979's "Encuentros muy cercanos con señoras de cualquier tipo" was another popular Argentine sex comedy. It starred Olmedo, Porcel, Moria Casan and Adriana Aguirre.
During the 1980s, Olmedo and Porcel, along with Susana Gimenez and Casan, for example, collaborated frequently in these types of films. Movies where these and other actors participated were popular in Argentina and other Latin markets, such as Puerto Rico and Spain, for example.
Towards the end of the 1980s, many of these films were recorded exclusively for the Argentine straight-to-video rental market.
More modern stars who have participated in this genre in Argentina include Ana Katz.