Two friends from school become inseparable as they grow up. Rosario, living at home with her elderly mother, suffering from what appears to be Alzheimer's disease, has to fend for herself as she struggles alone to be the care giver, plus having to be the breadwinner. She has a sister who is in Barcelona, and obviously, has more important things to do with her life, so she stays away.
Milagros, the other friend, is a free spirit, as well as a loose cannon. When we meet her, she is driving her uncle's taxi, although she is a lousy business woman. When Rosario loses her job cleaning a bank, and Milagros' uncle takes away the car, they look for a job as part of the sanitation department cleaners.
Rosario gets the attention of a fellow cleaner, Morsa, who likes her. Since the only place for them to meet is her apartment, she takes him there. The mother, who is living in a sort of fog, comes into the room while they are at it, but does not notice a thing. For other encounters, Rosario locks the mother in the wardrobe.
The relationship between the two women suffers when Milagros discovers an infant in one of the garbage bins. She wants to have the baby because she reveals a secret that she has kept away from her friend. The story ends tragically, but something positive seems to have worked within Rosario, when she realizes Morsa is the only one for her.
Angeles Gonzalez Sinde is the current Spanish secretary of culture. She adapted the material which is based on a novel by Elvira Lindo. The results are mixed. In spite of some humor in the relationship between the two women at the center of the story, it is a depressing tale from the start. The film is told in a sort of flashback that does not become clear until almost the end what is really going on.
Malena Alterio is Rosario, who has done better in other films. The revelation here is the Milagros of Esperanza Pedreno a much complex character than really meets the eye. We also liked Antonio De La Torre's Morsa; he gives an understated performance.
Milagros, the other friend, is a free spirit, as well as a loose cannon. When we meet her, she is driving her uncle's taxi, although she is a lousy business woman. When Rosario loses her job cleaning a bank, and Milagros' uncle takes away the car, they look for a job as part of the sanitation department cleaners.
Rosario gets the attention of a fellow cleaner, Morsa, who likes her. Since the only place for them to meet is her apartment, she takes him there. The mother, who is living in a sort of fog, comes into the room while they are at it, but does not notice a thing. For other encounters, Rosario locks the mother in the wardrobe.
The relationship between the two women suffers when Milagros discovers an infant in one of the garbage bins. She wants to have the baby because she reveals a secret that she has kept away from her friend. The story ends tragically, but something positive seems to have worked within Rosario, when she realizes Morsa is the only one for her.
Angeles Gonzalez Sinde is the current Spanish secretary of culture. She adapted the material which is based on a novel by Elvira Lindo. The results are mixed. In spite of some humor in the relationship between the two women at the center of the story, it is a depressing tale from the start. The film is told in a sort of flashback that does not become clear until almost the end what is really going on.
Malena Alterio is Rosario, who has done better in other films. The revelation here is the Milagros of Esperanza Pedreno a much complex character than really meets the eye. We also liked Antonio De La Torre's Morsa; he gives an understated performance.