20 Centimeters

By:
In-House Review - Apr 16 2009

Welcome to the world of Marieta/Adolfo (Mónica Cervera) ? a narcoleptic, pre-op
transsexual woman who longs to get rid of eight inches of equipment that separates
her from being the glamorous person she longs to be. When she accidentally
falls , usually during the most inopportune moments, Marieta's dreams
become lavish and colorful musical numbers, where ? as a "real woman"- she can
sing in Spanish & English. Surrounded by her "family," which includes Ice Box
(Rossy de Palma of Almodóvar fame) and Tomás, an aspiring cellist who happens
to be a dwarf, Marieta finds support among her chaotic and often comical street
life. But when she meets a man known only as the "fruit stocker," it's love at first
sight, and spunky Marieta is caught between a rock and a hard place: true love or
her true self. Inspired by everything from MGM musicals and the films of Jacques
Demy to photographer Diane Arbus and West Side Story, director Ramón Salazar
wrote the film for his leading lady, Mónica Cervera, who was seen in last year's
film Ferpect Crime. Her unique look and musical ability bring
an authentic and exuberant energy to one of the most original and inventive films
of the year. (Spanish with English subtitles)

By: Amos Lassen

"20 Centimeters"
A Crowd Pleaser
Amos Lassen
TLA Releasing's "20 Centimeters" is another sure crowd pleaser along with the new documentary. "20 Centimeters", subtitled as "How Big is Your Dream", is directed by Ramon Salazar is a flamboyant comedy in the style of Mexican director, Pedro Almodovar. It is the story of Marieta, a transsexual who also happens to have a problem but her immediate problem is how to get rid of the 20 centimeters that stop her from being a real woman. (For those of you who have trouble with non American measurements, let me just say that all you have to do is change the word centimeters to inches and everything becomes a bit clearer). Being a narcoleptic, Marieta seems to fall "whenever" and whenever she does her dreams become elaborate musical numbers and she is the star-a real woman who can sing in English, French and Spanish.
"20 Centimeters" is a tribute to the Hollywood musical of yesterday with lots of colorful and lavish musical numbers that will have you laughing so hard that you will be hurting. Marieta's dream sequences are nothing short of amazing. As fantastic as her dreams are, her family matches them in craziness. There is a dwarf "cum" cellist, Tomas and a spaced out to lunch character named Bunny, a neighbor, Berta, who dreams of moving to Brazil and another weirdo named "Ice Box. These and her friends from the street are her support system. By now you can tell where this movie is going-Marieta is going to take us on a ride which we will not forget soon.
One day, while at the market, Marieta meets a guy who is not only extremely handsome but who falls in love with her as she is-20 centimeters and all. But her love affair with the guy known only as the "fruit stocker" is thwarted by her desire to rid herself of the appendage that stops her from becoming the woman she wants to be. Not even love will stop her from fulfilling her dream. What desire! What aspiration! What a woman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Marieta will go down in movie g=history with Priscilla from "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" as a drag queen who we love and who becomes part of our lives.

By: marty

this is not your 1950s june cleaver doing housework in pearls and a starched crinoline look at life. this movie is messy - like the lives of the working girls who prowl the streets in the late nights and early mornings. without giving away too much of the plot, the movie does highlight an interesting psychological phenomenon. apparently there are a number of "straight" men who allow themselves total abandon with "trannie hookers" - even to the point of fellation and receptive anal sex - without any consideration that these acts might constitute "gay sex." the reason given? because "you're a woman!" if that's really true, then i might just have to start dragging up before a night on the town!