Nina Varela emerged as a notable figure in the late 1960s and early 1970s, contributing to the landscape of cult cinema with her performances. In You're a Big Boy Now (1966), she captures the essence of youthful rebellion, while in The Christian Licorice Store (1971), her role reflects the era's exploration of counterculture themes. Varela's work in these films highlights her ability to navigate the complexities of character-driven narratives, making her a memorable presence in the realm of exploitation and independent cinema.
You're a Big Boy Now
Bernard Chanticleer’s father gives him two simple words of advice: “Grow up.” Bernard knows that his first step is to find a girl who’s “willing,” but he passes up a sure thing, Amy Partlett, for a more elusive goal. Her name is Barbara Darling, an inscrutable go-go dancer. More than a few obstacles keep Bernard from his dream world. There’s his doting mother, who mails him locks of her hair and weeps at the thought of her baby as a man; there’s a malicious rooster, trained to attack pretty girls, patrolling the halls of his New York City rooming house; and most of all, there’s Barbara herself. She turns out to be a man hater, emotionally scarred by the lecherous wooden-legged hypnotherapist who “counseled” her in high school. All in all, Bernard finds himself in an improbable universe with a calculated clumsiness designed to evoke his confusing coming-of-age.
