Elisa & Marcela (2019)

In 1901, Elisa Sanchez Loriga took on the identity of Mario Sánchez to marry her lover of fifteen years, Marcela Gracia Ibeas.

Director:

Isabel Coixet

Writers:

Ardwight Chamberlain (script adaptation), Isabel Coixet (screenplay by)

Stars:

Natalia de Molina, Greta Fernández, Sara Casasnovas

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Natalia de Molina	...	Elisa Sánchez Loriga
Greta Fernández	...	Marcela Gracia Ibeas
Sara Casasnovas	...	Ana
Tamar Novas	...	Andrés
Lluís Homar	...	Gobernador Oporto
Manolo Solo	...	Alcaide
María Pujalte	...	Madre de Marcela
Francesc Orella	...	Padre de Marcela
Kelly Lua	...	Flor
Manuel Lourenzo	...	Párroco Victor Cortiella
Jorge Suquet	...	Médico de Dumbría
Ana Santos	...	Vecina Mayor
Mariana Carballal	...	Monja / Profesora Historia
Roberto Leal	...	Sacerdote de Dumbría
Luisa Merelas	...	Monja Ciega

Storyline

The first same-sex marriage in Spain to take place after the Roman Imperial era occurred on 8 June 1901. Two women, Marcela Gracia Ibeas and Elisa Sanchez Loriga, attempted to get married in A Coruña (Galicia, Spain). To achieve it Elisa had to adopt a male identity: Mario Sánchez, as listed on the marriage certificate.

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Plot Keywords:

female nudity | female full frontal nudity | lesbianism | lesbian sex | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

TV-MA

Details

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish Portuguese

Release Date:

7 June 2019 (USA)

Also Known As:

Elisa & Marcela

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lanube Películas, Axencia Galega das Industrias Culturais (AGADIC), Institut Català de les Empreses Culturals (ICEC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Greta Fernández replaced María Valverde due to scheduling conflicts.

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Goofs

The film mentions that the action happens in the Chubut Province in 1925. The Province was created thirty years later; the administrative division name in 1925 was "Chubut National territory"

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Crazy Credits

During the end credits, photos of real-life lesbian couples are shown.

User Reviews

Powerful Yet Fetishized

Elisa & Marcela is a beautifully shot piece of cinema. Each frame of nearly every shot looks like it could be framed, and hung up on display in a museum.

The representation of being queer can be problematic at times. Some of the shots imply that Elisa and Marcela's relationship is disgusting. Two of these are cut away shots of a dead squid; and a third shot involving the corpse of a squid being used in a sexual act. The three sex scenes throughout the film felt like as if I were watching a porno, and dragged out for far too long. Throughout these segments in the film, it felt like the movie was catering more to the "horny male demographic" rather then tell the story of Marcela and Elisa. The movie has this atmosphere that makes you feel like our two main leads shouldn't be romantically involved together in any capacity what so ever. The prejudice Elisa and Marcela experienced was very well executed, and is very relatable for many LGBTQ+ individuals living in countries where homosexuality is outlawed. Even today.

The pacing of the film is pretty slow but it does allow us (the audience) to form a connection with Elisa and Marcela.

The performances of the two women playing Elisa and Marcela were pretty solid.

For me as a bisexual man, this film isn't the best representation of homosexuality in film, but deep down inside, you'll find a very powerful and engaging story.