The Adventures of Juan Planchard

Filmmaker Jakubowicz debuts with a raucous political thriller centered on 29-year-old Venezuelan playboy Juan Planchard, a roguish charmer who rejected the collective socialism of the Hugo Chavez government and made a fortune selling currency with the help of corrupt officials. At a poker table in Las Vegas, Juan falls in love at first sight with Scarlet, a high-end escort from California whom he initially assumes to be a college student on vacation. Whisking Scarlet to New York City on his private jet, Juan begins a torrid, drug-fueled love affair that culminates in their reckless marriage. All is bliss for the young couple until an eruption of violence back in Venezeula targets Juan’s family, sending him back to Caracas for vengeance. Meanwhile, Scarlet must confront a spiteful ex-boyfriend who’s been blackmailing her. While the tone veers uneasily between tawdry telenovela and Shakespearean epic, steamy sex scenes, ripe plot twists, and a deliciously over-the-top climax make this a top-notch contender for beach reading. (June)