Home > Metrospective

Reel world: Princesas
Princesas diaries shine
By Joe Nguyen
nguyejos@mscd.edu

Courtesy of IFC Films Princesas Not rated 109 minutes Opens Oct. 27

For prostitutes in Madrid, the problem isn’t the police; it’s the overabundance of Caribbean-born streetwalkers invading their turf.

In Princesas, writer and director Fernando León de Aranoa (Los Lunes al sol) takes his audience into the realm of the world’s oldest profession. He combines heavy issues such as racism and morality with the basic human needs of love and family. De Aranoa masterfully weaves intricate characters with rich music and a well-written script to produce an enchanting story about this seedy facet of life.

Caye, played by Candela Peña (All About My Mother), and the other neighborhood hookers believe migrant whores are overrunning their territory. But when she meets Zulema, a woman from the Dominican Republic, Caye realizes that these women are there because they have nowhere else to go. The two quickly develop a friendship that stands out as the one truly bright spot in their otherwise bleak world.

The strength of the film resides in the lead actresses’ performances of their complex characters. Zulema, played by Micaela Nevárez, lives in Madrid only because there are no opportunities in her home country.

On the job she’s straightforward and aggressive, but she becomes sweet when she’s with Caye. Nevárez gives an amazing performance alternating between her different personas, especially when she breaks down as she’s talking with her son on the phone.

Folk singer Manu Chao’s rich soundtrack adds to the film’s ambiance with its traditional sounds meshed with modern beats. “Me llaman Caye,” which translates as “They call me Caye,” stands out with its light but poignant nylon guitar plucks, simple bass line and laid-back Latin percussion.

From funny and heartwarming to sad and sleazy, De Aranoa captures a wide spectrum of life in Princesas. It’s destined to become one of the best foreign films of the year.