Señora de nadie (1982)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

María Luisa Bemberg

Writer:

María Luisa Bemberg (writer)

Release Date:

1 April 1982 (Argentina)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Divorce | Homosexual

Cast

Gabriela Acher
Luisina Brando
Berugo Carambula
Lidia Catalano
Julio Chávez
Villanueva Cosse
María Ibarreta
Mariángeles
Susú Pecoraro
Rodolfo Ranni
Guillermo Rico
Damián Urquino
China Zorrilla

Also Known As:

Nobody's Wife (USA)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

Argentina

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Argentina:18 | Chile:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina

Company:

GEA Producciones

Nobody's woman

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

To understand well this film, one has to realize that when it was made, divorce was still not a right for Argentines. Maria Luisa Bemberg, a feminist director, was instrumental for this movie that shows a situation that might not be understood by people in different countries because divorce is taken for granted in most places, but it wasn't the case in a macho dominated society in South America.

When we first meet Leonor, she appears to be a happy upper middle class woman living a good life in Buenos Aires. One day, while shopping, she observes a couple a parked car and watches her husband kissing passionately another woman. Leonor follows her to the antique store where the woman works and confronts her with what she has just seen. Nothing is denied, on the contrary, it becomes clear that Fernando, the cheating husband, has been lying to Leonor for years.

There is never a confrontation between Leonor and her husband. She decides she has to leave. Her mother is not supportive and suggests to Leonor to go back to the man who cheated on her. Instead of heeding her advice, Leonor moves with an aunt who runs a pension for older women. Leonor sticks out as a sore thumb in this new environment. Leonor meets Pablo, a gay man who is the first person who is kind to her. They form a strong bond; when Pablo's aunt dies, he invites Leonor to come share his house with him.

One day, at a party, a bearded man gets Leonor eye. He invites her to dance, and it's strange the way he is acting. As it turns out, it's her estranged husband, Fernando, who wants to see if he can win her back. For Fernando, after Leonor leaves, nothing seems to change. He has the two boys all for himself, and he is rich enough not to miss the wife that supervised his life, as long as he can pay the competent housekeeper to take care of things.

"Senora de nadie" was an important film for its director, Maria Luisa Bemberg. She was lucky to have an excellent actress, Luisina Brando, to portray Leonor in the film. Ms. Brando makes quite an impression as this confused and wounded Leonor who finds some degree of normalcy in her life in the company of a homosexual who is only interested in her welfare. Julio Chavez, who was excellent in the serial "Epitafios", is seen as Pablo, the gay man.

The film shows Maria Luisa Bemberg at one of the best moments of her career.