En la puta vida

I had not seen a film as moronic as this in a long time. It plays with prostitution as if it were a "to be or not to be a virgin" comedy starring Doris Day, but even in her vehicles Doris was not as dumb as the main character in this motion picture. Elisa is a vulgar and amoral young woman, a cruel daughter and a terrible mother to two little boys, who leaves the paternal home, breaks up with her boss and lover, quits her job and enters the prostitution world as first choice, to raise money for opening a beauty salon with Lulú, her empty headed partner who introduces her to Madame Jacqueline's brothel. She ends up in Barcelona (Spanish locations, actors or characters are prerequisites in most co-productions done with Spain) with a mafioso lover and Lulú, gets involved in quarrels with Brazilian transvestites that lead to murder, and dealings with policemen. Not even then the film shows a bit of concern for the real facts it is based on, but rather goes on accumulating clichés, that turn Elisa into "Our Lady of the Whores". Bad acting by both lead male actors (Argentinean Silvestre, and Catalan Josep Linuesa) does not help this mess, ironically directed by a woman. Raise a few points if you will for fine technical aspects that can be bought by moneys from so many co-producers (Uruguay, Argentina, Spain, Cuba and Belgium).

This Uruguayan film is surprisingly good. Not being acquainted with either the director, or the film, as I don't think it has been shown locally, I decided to take a look. It certainly was a welcome surprise what director Beatriz Flores Silva has accomplished.

The story centers around Elisa, a young single mother, who must make ends meet by going into the world's oldest profession. Elisa, like other young women, I'm sure, is lured into taking a big leap into the riches that Placido suggests are not to be believed doing that kind of work in Barcelona.

Elisa gets more of what she bargained for. She is beaten by Placido and the reality is that she is part of a lucrative business not to be realized by her, but her pimps and the mafia that controls it. It seems incredible that someone as intelligent as Elisa is, falls into this world where women are in danger by working the mean streets in the old quarter of the city.

The film owes a great deal to Mariana Santangelo, a young actress who is a natural. She is an excellent actress who knows the character she is portraying. Andrea Fantoni, as her best friend, Lulu, also is very effective in the film. Silvestre as Placido, the suave pimp, plays his part well. Finally, Jose Linuesa, is also good as Marcelo, who is the only one that helps Elisa escape her horrible experience in Spain.

this is a well paced drama about an important subject-white sex slaves. 2 Uruguayan girls follow a pimp to Barcelona at which point they are literally kidnapped and forced into prostitution. the movie is well written , despite the subject matter there is some good humor. the characters are well developed. Mariana Santangelo portrays the lead as one of the most adorable and alluring roles an actress has portrayed on film. This is a must see. A hidden gem. The pimp, played by Silvestre, an Argentine TV actor is also excellent and pulls you in a quiet forceful manner. The chemistry between these 2 leads is easy to see.

Searching the IMD data base most of the creators in this film have not done much since then. This is unfortunate and goes to show how difficult it is to recreate the magic on film.

This Uruguayan film, one of the most popular films shown at the recent São Paulo Film Festival after breaking box office records at home, is a funny and intelligent film.

It addresses an important ongoing, unresolved pan-Latin American issue which, inexplicably, has not been depicted as it deserves to be, in either Spanish or Latin America cinema. That is, up to now.

Since the 1980s, unemployed, impoverished Latin American women have been lured to Spain, somewhat knowingly or unknowingly, to support their families at home through prostitution. However, once in Spain, these women´s passports and freedom are taken away. They become sex slaves, often with no way out, with no pay, and no one to turn to for help.

This film, mixes comedy, drama, social commentary, tragedy, and the sense of hope, all to great effect. If it plays at a film festival near you, as it may soon, I would definitely recommend this unusual, funny, and touching film.

Despite an excellent lead performance by Mariana Santángelo, the story told in this film deserved a more serious approach than it's given here. Such artificial cliches as the "doomed best friend" and the "handsome, understanding cop" seem out of place amid the elements of what should be an inherently dark and dramatic story.