Reinas (Queens)

I remember watching this movie a few years back on World Movies. Those were the days (she says sounding undoubtedly like a 60 year-old pensioner). But you can't deny the fact that that particular channel did showcase some of the best regional films. I would apologize for the delay in uploading a new post but that would be redundant. Also if I do get an indication that my apology has been accepted, I may take you for granted but I'm getting too ahead of myself here. Pardon the digression.

I don't generally put restrictions on age groups for movies but for some it's mandatory. You cannot let a 7 year old watch A Clockwork Orange! That is not me talking from experience. Honestly.
Anyway, Reinas isn't a film for children below the age of 15 and people with an aversion to homosexuals. There isn't much explicit content but it would be better if you're of a certain age to understand and appreciate the humor in the film.

Reinas or "Queens" as it is called in English, is like an exotic, pulpy and refreshing drink with a certain tang to it that you just cannot get enough of. It's like the kind of drink that you'd want to sip slowly whilst savouring the flavour and one that leaves you wistful and yearning for more. It's a Spanish film directed by Manuel Gomez Periera in 2005.
Queens is a comedy which stars Carmen Maura, Unax Ugalde, Daniel Hendler, Betiana Blum, Verónica Forqué, Paco León, Gustavo Salmerón, Mercedes Sampietro, Tito Valverde, Marisa Paredes, Raul Jiminez, Hugo Silva and Lluís Homar. The plot revolves around the lives of three homosexual couples, their mothers, not to mention anything of the dog and the ridiculous events that take place two days before all 3 couples are married. The film is set in Madrid where homosexual marriages have been recently legalized. For our couples, it is a right conquered and it leads to a huge event where twenty homosexual couples are married at once and covered by the press and television channels. Even though it may seem like they're making a huge spectacle out of something personal, I can't help but find it endearing.
Magda (Carmen Maura) is the owner of a very high-end, luxurious hotel wherein the marriage ceremony will take place. She's a shrewd business woman who refuses to tolerate any nonsense. Not from her lover/head chef at the hotel, Cesar, who's leading a protest against the hotel authorities to increase their wages and least of all from her in-law Ofelia (Betiana Blum), who wishes to bring her dog in the hotel. The relationship between their sons, Miguel (Unax Ugalde) and Oscar (Daniel Hendler) becomes quite awry when Ofelia moves in with them. Their problems become much greater than just the usual coitus-interruptus. Jonas (Hugo Silva), a heart surgeon has always done everything he could to please his father except for falling in love with Ken instead of Barbie! His father, Jacinto (Lluis Homar) is Reyes'(Marisa Paredes) gardener whom he's been lusting for since quite some time. Does Lady Chatterley's Lover ring a bell? Reyes is an actress and lives with her only son Rafa (Raul Jiminez). Inspite of Jonas' education and prestigious job she still doesn't consider him as good enough for Rafa. Both the parents disapprove of the match which inadvertently makes our young couple's relationship stronger. Our last couple seems to generate the most amount of controversy. Narciso (Paco Leon) is a politician who's taking a stand for homosexual rights and will be marrying his boyfriend Hugo (Gustavo Salmeron). Narciso's mother Nuria (Veronica Forque), a sex addict, travels to see him get married while also trying to avoid having one of her "encounters". Nuria is quite supportive about her son's wedding but Hugo's parents are less enthusiastic. His mother, by some trick of fate, ends up becoming the judge in charge of the ceremony whereas she wasn't even going to attend the wedding. His father, Hector (Tito Valverde) is a police officer and a terrible one at that. He doesn't seem to have a problem with Hugo being homosexual although he is quite intrigued when he realizes that his son's never been with a woman. Because of the rift caused by his parents, Hugo has cold feet before the wedding and he cheats on Narciso. Turns out he isn't the only one.
This is the typical feel-good film and does not cease to entertain me. What was surprising was that the relationship between the sons and mothers were not unlike any Indian household let alone a heterosexual one. The constant banter between Miguel and Ofelia reminded me of a "saas-bahu" serial! Although the main idea about acceptance of homosexuality tends to fade out in the background because of everything else that's going on, the subject is touched upon at various points throughout the film. Opinions on this movie have varied greatly. I, for one, can watch this film over and over again and not get tired of it but professional critics will tell you that the film isn't worth watching. I'd appreciate it if you gave it a chance, you maybe surprised by just how much you enjoy it.