Hello, dear users! It is a great pleasure and a joy to be here with you today after a long, forced hiatus caused by the constant power outages in my country. Taking advantage of the current availability of electricity, I’d like to share a review of a film I first watched many years ago—one I’ve revisited to reconnect with the elements that originally captivated me about this story.
The film I’m referring to is Elisa & Marcela (2019)—a beautiful love story that serves as a reminder of how wonderful and rewarding it can be to love someone and have that love returned. It is a moving tale that deeply resonated with me, thanks to the purity, devotion, and unconditional loyalty the two women showed one another.
Set in rural Spain during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the story unfolds in an era defined by extreme conservatism and the heavy influence of the Catholic Church. In such a context, women lacked autonomy over their own lives and affections; breaking social norms was viewed not merely as a sin, but as an unthinkable crime. There was simply no room for a love that fell outside the established, rigid molds. I believe that, even today, we can still see this dynamic playing out in many cultures and families.
Even so, the strength of their feelings was greater than any prejudice. Faced with rejection from their families, the judgmental stares of the townspeople, and persecution by the authorities, Elisa and Marcela decided not to give up on their happiness—and that is the most beautiful part of the story. Their desire to build a life together led them to a desperate and risky act of courage: Elisa defied everything around her by disguising herself as a man, adopting the identity of "Mario," and managing to get married in a church in 1901—marking what would become the first recorded same-sex marriage in Spain.
Beyond the social injustice and persecution they faced, what truly shines through on screen is the delicacy and tenderness with which Isabel Coixet—the film’s director and screenwriter—portrays their bond. I was personally struck by the way these two young women looked at each other, how they cared for one another, and the lengths to which they were willing to go just to stay together. It goes to show that true love knows no laws or social norms; it is a force that endures, transforms, and persists despite the impositions of society. A true gem of romantic cinema that leaves your heart feeling deeply touched.
Images from TMDB
I used Google Translate; my native language is Spanish.
Rating: 95/100