Set in the close gypsy community where everyone knows each other's business, Lola wants to escape the strict rules and way of thinking. Carmen, newly engaged to Lola's cousin, is at first happy to go down the path that other women have done before. But when these two girls meet, there's no denying their chemistry or passion.
Formally published on VultureHound HERE.
There is always a story to tell when it comes to forbidden love. Even in this day and age, some love is treated as less than, not accepted and has the power to tear families apart, even communities. This is how a story goes when a new love blossoms but is kept secret. Secrets always come out and usually in cases of the heart, are always devastating. But ‘Carmen & Lola’ breathe life into this tale of love with a new setting and intriguing two leads.
Teenagers Lola and Carmen live in a gypsy community in a suburb of Madrid. They work at the market with their families and attend church each week, but are on very different paths. Lola, is just learning about her attraction to women and dreams of having a better life away. Carmen is getting engaged to Rafa, Lola’s cousin and seems content in living the same way as all the other women in her community. Getting married, having children and becoming a hairdresser. After a chance meeting and tentative friendship, the two girls are drawn to each other and gradually fall in love, not thinking about the consequences of their relationship and what their families will think of them.
From the start, Lola is already trying to explore her sexuality, whereas Lola, although sneaks a peek at her brother’s porn magazine, doesn’t give it a second thought until Lola takes an interest in her. They are both attracted to each other, even if Carmen is at first outraged by the thought. Theirs isn’t a no holds barred passion, they don’t flaunt their feelings in public, unless you count graffiti art, but a more conservative in how they conduct themselves. This is most likely due to the strict rules of their community that have been imposed on them. The two girls still seem rather innocent, which is something the families choose to ignore, focusing on the fact they love each other jus being a sin in their eyes.
The gypsy way of life is touched upon through rules, family dynamics and through celebrations. One aspect that of the girls’ lives is that school is not seen as a necessity for them. Lola values her education and what to study further whereas Carmen hasn’t even an interest in taking a course in hairdressing. The value of education in general doesn’t seem important to the families, just so long as they can read, write and count, skills needed at the market. The film does little to hide the fact that the gypsy community is very much a patriarchal society. Women are given very little choice and barely any freedom. Although this is a story about Carmen and Lola, we only see their experience and how they feel. Very little is seen of the families, particularly the men in the family unless as parties, church and at the market. It would be interesting to see if the boys, same age as Lola and Carmen behave and think, but that, might a whole different film.
On the whole, ‘Carmen & Lola’ isn’t a new story but it is a fresh perspective and a small insight into a tight knit community who isn’t open minded, or at least, is portrayed to be. The two leads, Zaira Romero (Lola) and Rosy Rodriguez (Carmen) are mesmerizing. In both their first feature roles, they ground the film into blossoming romantic drama that you can’t tear yourself away from.