Las mantenidas sin sueños

If you get chance - see this movie - It'll be hard to find in the States, but you'll be amazed. A coked out mother, brilliant but way on the skids , is being buoyed by her 10 year old, and the support of some friends and neighbors, who all have their own problems. The men in the film are hopeless and ridiculous. The women are , well, "kept and dreamless", but not beyond hope. It really is a Marxist/Feminist film where class and history inform the situations. And most incredibly , it really is a comedy of a dark sort. Even in the most desperate situations, the director finds an absurd angle, which gives rise to the hope and sustenance of the film. It is also shot in great pop colors, particularly shades of green and pink (reflecting earth and women?) The performances are terrific. The little girl, Lucia Snieg, is really, really unbelievable. Where do these little actresses come from?! She's not even in the credits listed here, and she ought to be rich and world famous!! Vera Fogwill as the mother is so real, so touching with the little girl, and their scenes together are utterly grounded. The bonding between all the women is heartening. The movie gives no easy answers, but in it's critique of gender, class, and Argentinian society, it manages to balance hope, laughs, and inspiration. A rare treat.