- published: 22 Nov 2015
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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.
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.