Carlos Saura’s Stress Is Three continues the Spanish auteur’s interrogation of machismo and masculinity. The black-and-white cinematography perfectly suits the film’s tone – especially as we see begin to see more of Fernando’s subjective perspective on the world around him. Like so many of Saura’s films up to this point, we have older men with younger women (this is commented on throughout the film as being unusual), and this is one reason for Fernando’s insecurity within his marriage. The editing is fantastic – quick cuts intensify and fragment the action, further pushing the couple away from one another. It’s extremely compelling to watch the ways that the husband’s petty jealousy and insecurity end up pushing his wife further away from him – his attempts to control her, to spy on her, his certainty that she is being unfaithful ends up being what causes a major rift in their marriage. Once again, Saura ratchets up the tension with his editing rhythms (short bursts of aggression, constant attempts at one-upping each other) until the explosive ending. While it may not have as much of the rich symbolism as earlier Saura films, it’s still quite strong.