Princesas

I watched this movie in the cinemas in Madrid, and I was pleasantly surprised. Not haven seen or heard anything about the movie, except for the posters, I did not know what to expect.

This movie is about the lives of prostitutes, and is not groundbreaking in selection of topic. The manner, in which it is portrayed, however, is perfect. Not being caught up in the American standards, Fernando León de Aranoa has gone his own way, making Princesas a great, original movie. When that has been said, it does contain a few clichés that keeps this movie from reaching it's full potential.

Candela Peña fits perfectly in the role of Caye, and she does an amazing job conveying the emotions of her character to the audience. Even more so this time than she did in 'Todo sobre mi madre'. In one of the last scenes, she is on a date with a guy she hit it off with (that does not know what she do for a living), and the feelings she displays... It makes you wonder how the crappy Hollywood actresses (of course not all of them) got their jobs, considering there are others out there, who just leave them in the dust.

If you're looking for a realistic movie about prostitution, or just a story to live yourself into - take a look at this.

Micaela Nevárez is a Puerto Rican actress who has achieved great fame in independent and European films. She made her film debut in the acclaimed Spanish film Princesas which was directed by Fernando León de Aranoa, in which she played Zulema, an illegal immigrant from the Dominican Republic trying to make a living as a prostitute on the streets of Madrid, Spain. Her strong convincing performance in this film earned her a Goya Award for Best New Actress in 2006, making her the first Puerto Rican thespian to win this prestigious award.By winning this award, Nevárez became the first Puerto Rican performer to win this prestigious film honor and one of the few Latin American actresses to do so as well. She is preparing to launch her film career in the United States in 2008 with a supporting role in the independent film The War Boys starring Victor Rasuk and Peter Gallagher.

Caye is saving up for a boob job. She gets her money as Lima, whoring in the streets of Madrid. Every week she eats dinner with her family and worries abut her mother's increasingly slippery grip on reality. And she has theories on Princesses and their attachment to nostalgia. Caye has no past to be nostalgic for, so she is sad for her lost future. She meets illegal immigrant and fellow prostitute Zulema, and the friendship brings her some respite. But nothing good lasts forever...

Princesas is a poetic work, shot cinema verite style showing in uncompromising detail the degradation and danger that accompanies these women's lives. Candela Peña is engrossing as Caye, with no past to comfort her, and unable to see a better future, stuck in an eternal present. Her only hope is that there is not another life like this one. Zulema, the stunningly beautiful Micaela Nevárez, is compromised by a government bureaucrat lowlife who dangles just enough hope in front of her to facilitate his need to abuse. This relationship must be the only time in cinema history where a character looking for revenge packs a knife in her bag, and the audience never sees it again. Zulema, however, at least has a Pyrrhic victory of sorts (though the film falters slightly here, as it is unclear exactly who is infecting whom...)

A snapshot of lives lived in shadows and on the edges of our civilization, this is lyrically written, and shot in an unobtrusive, straightforward manner. Touching, truthful and ample food for thought.

To my recollection, I have only seen one other movie about the lives of prostitutes. Sure there was Pretty Woman, but that really didn't get into the actual work. This film is different and really does a great job showing the less glamorous side.

Fernando León de Aranoa wrote and directed the film and it moves along well. It certainly keeps your interest. The soundtrack is also a big plus.

Candela Peña (All About My Mother) is Caye, who rarely smiles as she deals with her mother, who seems to be losing it, and tries to establish a real relationship that keeps bumping up against her occupation.

A new actress, Micaela Nevárez is Zulema, who is consumed with the child she left in the Dominican Republic. She is trying to get papers to get out of Spain, and is taken advantage of by a sleazy public official. She gets revenge in an unusual way.

Together Caye and Zulema are friends and they try to survive in spite of their occupation. It is a times funny, and certainly sad as they try to find that opening to a better life.

When I saw Los Lunes al Sol, another Spanish film from the same Director, I could almost feel what it was like to be an unemployed man in our society. I thought Princesas would be at least a bit realistic regarding the life of a prostitute. I was wrong. The film is cute, has some rhythmic music, the two main characters are likable, etc. but the story is way too light. The film touches from far away certain issues like exploitation, venereal diseases, racism, etc. but it NEVER gets into reality. The general feeling is like being a prostitute is more fun that any other thing... just a step below "Pretty Woman". Princesas is definitely just a commercial film and (besides some acting)has nothing to be considered high quality.