Princesas

Princesas
Promotional movie poster for the film
Directed by	Fernando León de Aranoa
Produced by	Fernando León de Aranoa Jaume Roures
Written by	Fernando León de Aranoa
Starring	Candela Peña Micaela Nevárez
Music by	Alfonso de Vilallonga Manu Chao
Cinematography	Ramiro Civita
Editing by	Nacho Ruiz Capillas
Distributed by	IFC First Take (U.S.)
Release date(s)	August 23, 2006 (U.S.)
Running time	109 minutes
Language	Spanish

Princesas is a 2005 film by Spanish director Fernando León de Aranoa.

The princesas in the film are two prostitutes: Caye, who is saving for breast implants, and Zulema, who is saving money to send to her family in the Dominican Republic. The two women ply their trade on the streets of Madrid.

The film's initial release was in 2005; it was released in the United States in August 2006 at the IFC Center in New York City and nationally to many digital cable subscribers via IFC OnDemand.

Plot

The film begins in Spain where Caye (Candela Peña) goes to Gloria’s Hair Salon which she frequents and discusses everything from life to politics during her off hours with other salon patrons; who are also her friends. It is immediately discovered that they have a mutual hatred toward the immigrant prostitutes they observe from the salon. This is because some of them (including Caye) are also prostitutes and feel the immigrants take johns (and ultimately business and money) from them.

Caye’s point of view is quickly reversed when she meets Zulema (Micaela Nevárez), an illegal immigrant prostitute working to send money home to her mother and son Edward she left in the Dominican Republic. The two quickly develop a strong bond and support each other with everything including shopping, fashion tips and hair styles. Caye takes Zulema to her mother’s house for dinner, her phone constantly rings but Caye refuses to answer, something her mother is always confused and bothered about. There Zulema quickly volunteers for the job to teach sex education at Caye’s sister’s school, affording her the ability to send a toy truck to her son for his birthday.

Caye is a work at a night club where she meets Manuel. He is a computer programmer and after some talking into, Caye convinces him to go with her. Over coffee, Caye confesses she is a puta (prostitute). Manuel does not believe her and laughs it off and they begin a relationship.

Zulema approaches Caye and tells her about a man who has promised her papers that will legalize her status in Spain and allow her to legally bring her family where they can be together, albeit her profession. Caye is quick to assume a scheme and begs Zulema not to go with him as he will enslave her and her dreams of bringing her family will not come to fruition. Caye’s theory proves true, the man wishes simply to use Zulema and never had intentions of actually providing her legal status. She escapes once with the aid of Caye but is conned into another tryst where he severely beats her. Later Zulema had a consensual tryst with a compassionate "volunteer" and goes to the hospital for a full medical examination. When Zulema sees the test results, she collapses. Zulema’s collapse in the clinic is the only hint given that the test results are of a negative effect, that Zulema may have been infected with a devastating disease or became pregnant. Actual confirmation of her medical status is left ambiguous as dialogue of exactly what Zulema was infected with or if anything at all, is never heard. There is a hint that her condition is fatal and communicable as she intentionally arranges to meet with her abuser and has rough sex with him with Zulema being the aggressor.

While at the hospital with Zulema, Caye receives a call from a john requesting her services for himself and his friends. Caye informs him of the cost of €50 per person and heads to the cafe where they have arranged to meet. There she runs into Manuel and a group of his co-workers only to realize that it was Manuel and his friends who are requesting her services and learns of Manuel’s presumed infidelity. On the other hand Manuel realizes that when they met, Caye was indeed being serious about her profession, without saying a word to each other, they both understand the predicament and quietly go their separate ways.

Devastated over her newfound situation, Zulema decides to leave Spain and return to her family in the Dominican Republic. With a heartfelt but bittersweet good-bye, Caye gives Zulema an envelope filled with cash and asks her to “go be happy”. That afternoon while having dinner with her family, Caye confesses that Zulema has permanently returned to the Dominican Republic because Zulema was a prostitute and could not further bear the emotional burden of the profession and being away from her son. It is hinted that by confessing for Zulema, Caye is confessing herself to her family. The film concludes with Caye’s cellphone again incessantly ringing, her mom asking her whether she is going to answer or not and Caye simply retorting, “Cojé tú mamá” (you answer it, mom).

Cast

• Candela Peña — Caye
• Micaela Nevárez — Zulema
• Mariana Cordero — Pilar
• Llum Barrera — Gloria
• Violeta Pérez — Caren
• Mónica Van Campen — Ángela

Soundtrack

"Me Llaman Calle" featured world music artist Manu Chao, and earned the film a Goya nomination for Best Original Song.

Awards and nominations

Won

Goya Awards

• Best Actress (Candela Peña)
• Best New Actress (Micaela Nevárez)
• Best Original Song (Manu Chao for "Me llaman calle")

Spanish Actors Union

• Best Actor – Minor Role (Luis Callejo)
• Best Actress – Leading Role (Candela Peña)

Nominated

Goya Awards

• Best Costume Design (Sabine Daigeler)
• Best Film
• Best Makeup and Hairstyles (Manolo García and Carlos Hernández)
• Best New Actor (Luis Callejo)
• Best Screenplay – Original (Fernando León de Aranoa)
• Best Sound (Polo Aledo, Alfonso Raposo and Miguel Rejas)

Spanish Actors Union

• Best Actress – Minor Role (Mariana Cordero)
• Best Actress – Minor Role (Violeta Pérez)

Sundance Film Festival

• Grand Jury Prize: World Cinema – Dramatic (Fernando León de Aranoa)

External links

• Princesas at the Internet Movie Database