La Corona

In Spanish, “la corona” means “the crown.” In this Oscar-nominated HBO-aired documentary, directors Amanda Micheli and Isabel Vega spotlight four women who would love to win “la corona” in their “hometown” beauty pageant—the twist being that all of the contestants are inmates at Colombia's National Women's Penitentiary in Bogotá. The tiara gives the winner—and her cellblock—bragging rights, but it won't make her rich or famous, nor will it set her free or hasten release. A few women look as if they could model professionally, like soft-spoken guerrilla activist Viviana Bustos and cocky contract killer Maira Medina, but fate had other plans for them (the swastika tattoo on Medina's hand goes unmentioned, but it certainly mars her doll-like good looks). Aided by beauty queens and soap-opera stars from the outside world, the quartet learn to dance, walk in impossibly high heels, and smile, smile, smile. They also talk to the filmmakers about their lives before incarceration: the desperate times, broken marriages, and children left behind. Although prison warden Jenny Morantes says she isn't a big fan of the annual two-day event, the women love it, even if they complain about the donated dresses (Angela Valoyes, a charismatic convicted robber, describes the flashy frocks as “butt ugly”), but, hey, divas are divas the world over. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)