Caye (Candela Peña) is a thirty-something woman from the neighborhood who dedicates herself to prostitution to get the money necessary for cosmetic breast augmentation surgery. She doesn't plan to dedicate her entire life to him, but it's hard for her to get out of this routine in which she's already up to her neck. Zulema (Micaela Nevárez) is an undocumented immigrant who urgently needs money to send to her family so she can bring her son to Spain. She works hard on the streets. She doesn't have a home and, to make matters worse, she arouses resentment among her Spanish classmates who see her as a competitor. Hard lives on the Spanish streets! They lived on the streets waiting for a better life!
A short film ¨Sirenas¨ and three feature films ¨Familia¨, Barrio¨ and the multi-award-winning ¨Los Lunes al Sol¨, made director Fernando León one of the most prominent and respected figures on the Spanish film scene. In this his fourth film, of which he is also the screenwriter, Fernando León de Aranoa proposes a story about the daily life of women dedicated to the oldest profession in the world. The director creates a kind of Spanish neorealism by addressing the way of life of prostitutes in the so-called popular neighborhoods and from a sociological point of view; The two main characters are accurately portrayed. His style is quite urban and realistic both in the atmosphere and in the fresh dialogues and he tries to position himself in favor of the marginalized. The filmmaker Fernando León shows the ugliness of those neighborhoods, the harshness and the cold existence along with some nice scenes in which the strong friendship that little by little is developing between the two attractive protagonists, phenomenally played by Candela Peña and Micaela Nevarez, predominates. . . It turns out to be a small story about street people, immigrants and everyday problems, from which an attractive and sensitive film becomes something big and unique. For this he had two good actresses: Candela Peña (¨Te dio mis ojos¨, ¨Torremolinos 73¨), winner of two Goya awards for her performances in ¨Te Doy mis Ojos¨ and in this ¨Princesas¨. Along with her, the debutante and winner of the Goya for best new actress for this role Micaela Nevárez, becoming the first Puerto Rican actress to win such an award and who unfortunately was never heard from again after this film. The film also won the Goya for best original song, which went to "Me Llaman Calle" by Manu Chao. They are accompanied by the television actress Llum Barrera, (Aqui no hay que viva), Mariana Cordero, Violeta Pérez, Mònica Van Campen and other prestigious secondary characters such as Luis Callejo, Antonio Durán Morris, Pepa Aniorte, Carlos Bardem, Enrique Villén.
This displays a colorful and evocative photography by Ramiro Civita, shot on location in Madrid. As well as atmospheric and lively music by Alfonso de Vilallonga, and with many captivating songs. The film was professionally directed by Fernando León De Aranoa. The director and his cast members spent some time at HIV clinics to research the film. Fernando León De Aranoa was born on May 26, 1968 in Madrid, where he usually shoots his films. Fernando began working in cinema in the 90s, shooting short films and writing scripts, and has made some films, usually dramas. He is a good writer and director, known for Familia (1996), Princesas (2005), Barrio (1998), Amador (2010), Sabina (2011) and his best film Los Lunes al Sol (2002). Rating: 6/10.
A short film ¨Sirenas¨ and three feature films ¨Familia¨, Barrio¨ and the multi-award-winning ¨Los Lunes al Sol¨, made director Fernando León one of the most prominent and respected figures on the Spanish film scene. In this his fourth film, of which he is also the screenwriter, Fernando León de Aranoa proposes a story about the daily life of women dedicated to the oldest profession in the world. The director creates a kind of Spanish neorealism by addressing the way of life of prostitutes in the so-called popular neighborhoods and from a sociological point of view; The two main characters are accurately portrayed. His style is quite urban and realistic both in the atmosphere and in the fresh dialogues and he tries to position himself in favor of the marginalized. The filmmaker Fernando León shows the ugliness of those neighborhoods, the harshness and the cold existence along with some nice scenes in which the strong friendship that little by little is developing between the two attractive protagonists, phenomenally played by Candela Peña and Micaela Nevarez, predominates. . . It turns out to be a small story about street people, immigrants and everyday problems, from which an attractive and sensitive film becomes something big and unique. For this he had two good actresses: Candela Peña (¨Te dio mis ojos¨, ¨Torremolinos 73¨), winner of two Goya awards for her performances in ¨Te Doy mis Ojos¨ and in this ¨Princesas¨. Along with her, the debutante and winner of the Goya for best new actress for this role Micaela Nevárez, becoming the first Puerto Rican actress to win such an award and who unfortunately was never heard from again after this film. The film also won the Goya for best original song, which went to "Me Llaman Calle" by Manu Chao. They are accompanied by the television actress Llum Barrera, (Aqui no hay que viva), Mariana Cordero, Violeta Pérez, Mònica Van Campen and other prestigious secondary characters such as Luis Callejo, Antonio Durán Morris, Pepa Aniorte, Carlos Bardem, Enrique Villén.
This displays a colorful and evocative photography by Ramiro Civita, shot on location in Madrid. As well as atmospheric and lively music by Alfonso de Vilallonga, and with many captivating songs. The film was professionally directed by Fernando León De Aranoa. The director and his cast members spent some time at HIV clinics to research the film. Fernando León De Aranoa was born on May 26, 1968 in Madrid, where he usually shoots his films. Fernando began working in cinema in the 90s, shooting short films and writing scripts, and has made some films, usually dramas. He is a good writer and director, known for Familia (1996), Princesas (2005), Barrio (1998), Amador (2010), Sabina (2011) and his best film Los Lunes al Sol (2002). Rating: 6/10.