„How do you know god exists?“
Spain in the 1990s. At a Catholic school for girls, Celia finds herself on the threshold to teenage life. Slowly she and her friends get into first contact with alcohol and parties, listen to music together, smoke their first cigarette and get tips from teen magazines. However, this is resolved lovingly and gently. No excesses, nothing too dramatic. These are the first experiences of a twelve-year-old.
Especially the new girl in class, Brisa from Barcelona, influences Celia. They have a lot in common, but at the same time Brisa cannot identify with the strong Catholicism, something Celia has never questioned. This lets Celia’s world crumble. She begins to question circumstances that she had previously taken for granted. A first tender rebellion begins. At home, the otherwise very intimate relationship with her single mother turns out to be increasingly difficult. Celia begins to demand more and more information about her family's background, even her school performance is suffering.
Las Niñas is carried by the extraordinarily impressive protagonist. The camera gives her space to unfold, follows her with particular closeness. Due to the 4:3 format, which is rarely used nowadays, her face is in special focus. Many scenes therefore illuminate her movements in particular; her experience of the situation. The colors of the film illustrate the atmosphere of a past decade. While the light is warm, the colours are kept simple. The school uniform of the girls, the robes of the nuns: all in white, grey, a shallow blue. Soft. This is also reflected in the background music. With the exception of the cassette recordings of this period, there is hardly any music.
Besides the questions arising by growing up in such a strict Catholic surrounding, Las Niñas especially captures the relationship between mother and daughter. Condemned by the outside world, which is shaped by the social views of the 1990s, Celia becomes increasingly aware of the injustices of society. Subliminally, conservative views are reinforced. TV shows, for example, tend to show women only ever as pretty company, not really someone to talk to. The chants the girls sing during their games all represent a very reduced view of women. The magazine tests they make always evolve around pleasing boys. In sex education classes, the girls are told that God only created them so that men would not be alone.
A young single mother does not have an easy time in Spain in the 1990s. Cast out by the rest of the family, Celia is also judged at school. She has to listen to mean comments that her mother is a slut having had Celia illegitimately. Her mother wants to give Celia a better life, but suffers from the fact that her daughter doesn't take the chances she is given. This leads to increasing tension. But it is clear that they love each other dearly. They just have to move away from each other first to learn how to find a new way in their relationship under the external influences.
All in all, director Pilar Palomero creates a calm, observant and very coherent film. Especially as a girl I can identify very well with Celia.
The director draws an arch that beautifully resolves at the end. The film shows the first strengthening of a girl, who will go through several of these developmental stages in the course of her life. The foundation for this is laid in this story. It is an early tender rebellion. It may seem almost harmless. But it is the first step from which Celia develops into an emancipated woman.
Spain in the 1990s. At a Catholic school for girls, Celia finds herself on the threshold to teenage life. Slowly she and her friends get into first contact with alcohol and parties, listen to music together, smoke their first cigarette and get tips from teen magazines. However, this is resolved lovingly and gently. No excesses, nothing too dramatic. These are the first experiences of a twelve-year-old.
Especially the new girl in class, Brisa from Barcelona, influences Celia. They have a lot in common, but at the same time Brisa cannot identify with the strong Catholicism, something Celia has never questioned. This lets Celia’s world crumble. She begins to question circumstances that she had previously taken for granted. A first tender rebellion begins. At home, the otherwise very intimate relationship with her single mother turns out to be increasingly difficult. Celia begins to demand more and more information about her family's background, even her school performance is suffering.
Las Niñas is carried by the extraordinarily impressive protagonist. The camera gives her space to unfold, follows her with particular closeness. Due to the 4:3 format, which is rarely used nowadays, her face is in special focus. Many scenes therefore illuminate her movements in particular; her experience of the situation. The colors of the film illustrate the atmosphere of a past decade. While the light is warm, the colours are kept simple. The school uniform of the girls, the robes of the nuns: all in white, grey, a shallow blue. Soft. This is also reflected in the background music. With the exception of the cassette recordings of this period, there is hardly any music.
A young single mother does not have an easy time in Spain in the 1990s. Cast out by the rest of the family, Celia is also judged at school. She has to listen to mean comments that her mother is a slut having had Celia illegitimately. Her mother wants to give Celia a better life, but suffers from the fact that her daughter doesn't take the chances she is given. This leads to increasing tension. But it is clear that they love each other dearly. They just have to move away from each other first to learn how to find a new way in their relationship under the external influences.
All in all, director Pilar Palomero creates a calm, observant and very coherent film. Especially as a girl I can identify very well with Celia.
The director draws an arch that beautifully resolves at the end. The film shows the first strengthening of a girl, who will go through several of these developmental stages in the course of her life. The foundation for this is laid in this story. It is an early tender rebellion. It may seem almost harmless. But it is the first step from which Celia develops into an emancipated woman.
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