My Dearest Senorita

My Dearest Senorita

Spanish film poster
Directed by Jaime de Armiñán
Produced by Luis Megino
Written by José Luis Borau
Jaime de Armiñán
Starring José Luis López Vázquez
Julieta Serrano
Antonio Ferrandis
Music by Rafael Ferro
Cinematography Luis Cuadrado
Edited by Ana Romero Marchent
Release date
  • 17 February 1972 (1972-02-17)
Running time
 80 minutes
Country Spain
Language Spanish

My Dearest Senorita (Spanish: Mi querida señorita) is a 1972 Spanish film directed by Jaime de Armiñán. A black comedy on the subject of sex change, it was the first Spanish film that talked about sexual orientation, which was a taboo subject in Spain during Franco's regime.

The film was released by In Cine, the Spanish division of Cinerama Releasing.

Plot

Adela is a 43-year-old spinster who lives quietly alone in an isolated northern provincial Spanish village. With no other accomplishments of a "lady of rank" and a small annuity, she spends her days sewing and doing charity work. Never feeling particularly attracted to men, she is waited upon in her home by a faithful lady's maid named Isabelita, who adores her.

One day, the local bank manager starts to court Adela and sets his sights on marriage. Adela, repelled by the physical contact of her suitor, resolves, after an argument with her Isabelita over the situation, to consult a doctor. Adela fires Isabelita, but sees the doctor anyway. Adela discovers after the consultation that she is not a woman after all, but a man. The former Adela takes then a new masculine identity as "Juan", and moves from the village to Madrid.

Juan arrives in Madrid and accidentally meets Isabelita, the servant girl he fired when he was Adela. Juan searches for a job and a new purpose in his life with his new identity. Life is very hard in Madrid and Juan uses his sewing skills to bring him a small income and enable him to obtain a work permit. However, he has problems securing an identity card.

As Juan prospers, he falls in love with Isabelita, but denies himself consummation of their affair for fear of a poor sexual response. Eventually, Juan is able to fulfill his duties as a man and is successful with Isabelita. While making love to her, he warns that one day he will tell her a secret. Isabelita says then: "There is no need, señorita", showing that she has known for some time his secret.

Cast

Reception

The film had a great controversy because it was made in the late time of Franquism. However, it attracted international attention and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film in 1973.[1] José Luis López Vázquez gives a bravura performance with delicacy. The film never degenerates into a cheap, sensational comedy but is full of humor, pathos and humility. Jaime de Armiñán shows his own strong literary and theatrical influences with an originality not seen before in Spanish cinema.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The 45th Academy Awards (1973) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved 2011-11-30.

Notes

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