Princesas (Princesses) poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Candela Pena, Micaela Nevárez, Maria Elena Cordero, Llum Barrera, Violeta Pérez ... see more see more... , Monica Van Campen , Flora Alvarez , María Ballesteros , Alejandra Lorente , Luis Callejo , Antonio Durán 'Morris' , Alberto Ferreiro

A middle-class prostitute strikes up an unlikely friendship with an immigrant streetwalker from the Dominican Republic in director Fernando León de Aranoa's compassionate, humanistic drama. Caye comes... read more read more... from a middle-class background, and her parents remain blissfully unaware of the means by which their daughter earns her keep. While many of Caye's days are spent hanging out with her fellow prostitutes cursing the rapid proliferation of cheaper immigrant prostitutes on the city streets, a chance encounter with Zule, who is just such a woman, soon prompts Caye to reevaluate her standards. A dedicated mother who walks the streets in order to send money to her son back home, Zule is taken to the hospital by Caye after being badly beaten and left for dead. Now, as a warm bond begins to develop between the two women whose dreams of financial stability and kind companionship help to ease the pain of familial separation, the resulting discovery of self-determination leads Caye and Zule on a journey of self-discovery that will leave both women forever changed. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Flixster Users

61% liked it

14,242 ratings

Critics

74% liked it

31 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 54 min.

Directed by: Fernando León de Aranoa

Release Date: August 23, 2005

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: March 27, 2007

Stats: 338 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

Micaela Nevárez Princesas (Princesses) Princesas (Princesses)
Upload a Photo | View All Princesas (Princesses) Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (338)

  • romy861
    August 6, 2009
    romy861
    Good movie. Fairly realistic, (or appeared to be), portrayal of prostitution. I liked the ending and the sense of hope for the main character instead of the usual, wound up dead or may as well be. The other lead character did not fare quite as well, but that's where the realism... read more comes into it, and at least it wasn't all bleak for her. (Not that I mind bleak as that is how things are, but this was a refreshing change).
  • gor41
    July 10, 2008
    gor41
    Mixes styles with reasonable success and Pena gives a believable nuanced performance but some of her flights of fancy are a little contrived.
  • deano
    April 8, 2007
    deano
    A quite good moving and sobering tale of two young prostitutes in Madrid. Powerful and poignant. And bloody hot of Spanish prostitutes.
  • SteveStrange
    October 15, 2009
    SteveStrange
    Boring! But well made if you want to know about the trials and tribulations of Spanish hookers.
  • mvieaddict
    April 29, 2009
    mvieaddict
    This is a very well written movie based on reality. Actor's performances are great. I like the movie because is a drama of an immigrant whom driven by the bad economic situation of her country, was forced to leave the homeland and work as a prostitute in Madrid Spain. She was pro... read moremised for a visa to stay legally in the country, but they just used her. She met Caye who is just a prostitute too They understand each other and they create a true friendship until Zulema has to leave the country because her HIV results came back positive. A very human story that is worth to see it.
  • John2223
    April 21, 2008
    John2223
    An interesting drama that portrait the lives of immigrant women who are forced by the bad economic situation of their respective countries, to leave their homeland and work as a prostitutes in Madrid, Spain. Great acting, script, as well as, the music and editing.
  • nawlinsj
    December 2, 2007
    nawlinsj
    This movie completely caught me off guard. I thought it was going to be a raunchy look into the world of prostitution. But, what it actually came out to be was a very well told story of 2 women from different worlds using prostitution to achieve their own goals. Good work by th... read moree 2 leads and a great job by the director to use prostitution as a backdrop of how these women see and react to the world around them. Highly recommend this movie.

View All Princesas (Princesses) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Michael Booth
October 27, 2006
Michael Booth, Denver Post

Aranoa sketches a melancholy based on accurate human observation. Full Review

Frank Scheck
September 7, 2006
Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter

While Princesas offers sensitive and beautifully wrought performances by its two leads (Candela Pena and Micaela Nevarez, who each won Goya Awards), the film offers little new in way of substance or t...

Kevin Thomas
September 1, 2006
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

Writer-director Fernando León de Aranoa embraces a pair of Madrid streetwalkers with such affection and compassion that their story, even though prostitutes are a staple of the movies, actually seems ... Full Review

Jonathan Holland
August 25, 2006
Jonathan Holland, Variety

Fernando Leon de Aranoa confirms his Loach-like ability to convert marginalized subjects into socially committed cinema. Full Review

John Anderson
August 25, 2006
John Anderson, Newsday

In Princesas, [writer-director Fernando León de Aranoa] leaves too many loose ends hanging about, but his sentiments are noble. Full Review

Jack Mathews
August 25, 2006
Jack Mathews, New York Daily News

Women become prostitutes for different reasons, and the reasons driving the main characters in Spanish writer-director Fernando León de Aranoa's earnest tale of friendship couldn't be more different. Full Review

Gregory Kirschling
August 23, 2006
Gregory Kirschling, Entertainment Weekly

The way that Aranoa so clearly venerates his lively women feels Almodóvar-esque, but the movie aims most of all to suggest that hookerdom is hell -- and it's neither realistic nor unsentimental enough... Full Review

V.A. Musetto
August 23, 2006
V.A. Musetto, New York Post

Princesas starts as a serious examination of the two women's lives, but it descends into a mushy melodrama complete with schmaltzy music and dewy cinematography.

Nathan Lee
August 22, 2006
Nathan Lee, New York Times

This maudlin melodrama about prostitutes in Madrid is not, alas, the new film by Pedro Almódovar, but a dilution of his manner by the writer-director Fernando León de Aranoa.

Melissa Levine
August 22, 2006
Melissa Levine, Village Voice

De Aranoa never condescends to his subjects, and Caye's mixture of aggression and tenderness is appealingly authentic. Could this be the first film to use a cell phone ringtone to devastating emotiona... Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Princesa
    Princesa (0%)
  • Little Fish
    Little Fish (0%)
  • Barrio
    Barrio (100%)
  • Candy
    Candy (0%)

More Movies like Princesas (Princesses)

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

Princesas (Prince... : Watch Free on TV

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for Princesas (Princesses). Want to create one?

Video Clips

Upload a Video |

All Princesas (Princesses) Videos

Meet Other Fans

Add Princesas (Princesses) to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?