Perfume de violetas nadie te oye (Violet Perfume No One is Listening)

Reviewed by Rafael Ocasio, Agnes Scott Coll, Decafur, GA -- Críticas, 6/15/2008

(Mexico, 2000) color. Spanish (English subtitles). 90 mins. TLA Releasing. 2007. DVD. $19.99. DRAMA

This film takes a look at violence in public high schools in the economically deprived areas of Mexico City. The characters are not, however, the typical mischievous youths that eventually begin a career as petty criminals. Yessica comes to a new school half way into the academic year because her former school had dismissed her for bad conduct. In spite of her efforts to appear rough, she becomes a good friend of Miriam, an applied student who lends Yessica a hand to help her to catch up with lost classes. They soon develop a strong friendship in which their opposite personalities seem to bring out the best of them. Yessica has a dark secret: her half-brother often allows a bus driver to rape her for money. Unable to defend herself, Yessica turns against her friend Miriam in a very surprising ending. Although this is not a Lesbian film, Yessica seems to have a crush on Miriam and the theme of a strong female friendship is fully explored from a feminist perspective. Director María Sistach (1952) effectively unveils taboo subjects such as domestic violence and sexual harassment, two issues that Yessica’s and Miriam’s mothers must face on a daily basis. The film focuses, however, on the frequent sexual exploitation (in away-from-the camera rape scenes) that Yessica endures. Recommended for large collections. See more information about this subject in Video Collection Development.