20 centímetros (2005)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Ramón Salazar

Writer:

Ramón Salazar (writer)

Release Date:

10 June 2005 (Spain)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical

Plot:

A narcoleptic transvestite who yearns to become a transsexual dreams up elaborate musical numbers in which she's the star.

Plot Keywords:

Dream | Savings | Prostitute | Narcolepsy | Operation

Awards:

6 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Mónica Cervera	...	Marieta
Pablo Puyol	...	El reponedor
Miguel O'Dogherty	...	Tomás
Concha Galán	...	Berta
Macarena Gómez	...	Rebeca
Lola Dueñas	...	Hermana de Rebeca
Pilar Bardem	...	Candelaria
Juan Sanz	...	Gustavo
Rossy de Palma	...	Ice Box
Najwa Nimri	...	Bunny
Geli Albaladejo	...	Empleada ETT
Fany de Castro	...	Fruit Stocker's Mother
Vicente Haro	...	Fruit Stocker's Father
María Lalane	...	Maestra
Pep Noguera	...	Superior

Also Known As:

20 Centimeters (International: English title)
20 Centimetres (Australia)
20 centimètres (France)

Runtime:

Spain:112 min

Country:

France | Spain

Language:

English | Spanish | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Brazil:18 | Italy:VM18 | Singapore:R21 (cut) | Portugal:M/16 | Australia:R | Spain:18

Company:

Aligator Producciones

Soundtrack:

Parole Parole

Didn't work for me.

"20 Centímetros" (2005), written and directed by Ramón Salazar, is the story of a transvestite who would like to be rid of the 20 centimeters-- about 8 inches--of sexual organ that prevents her from being the woman she wants to be. The plot becomes more complex because Marieta (Mónica Cervera) falls in love with a man who likes her just the way she is.

There are two more subplots--one involves Marieta's house-mate, who is a wildly inept businessman, and the other is about a woman who lives in Marieta's apartment house and who is involved with some very shady deals, that are often frustrated because she can't find a babysitter.

The supposed charm of the movie comes from the fact that Marieta has narcolepsy. When she falls into a trance, she dreams of herself in Technicolor musical production numbers.

The problem with this film for me was that the musical numbers, which should have kept the movie from just being a Spanish "Transamerica," weren't very charming. The classic movie musicals are colorful and vibrant--these were more cutting edge and threatening.

I don't see "20 Centimetros" as a GLBT film any more than "Transamerica" was a GLBT film. However, when it was shown at Rochester's Dryden Theatre, the crowd was composed almost exclusively of gay male couples. The man who introduced the film said the he chose it because of the musical numbers. I'm not sure if he had previewed it before he selected it. It's the kind of movie that looks better on paper than it plays on the screen.