20 Centimeters

The title refers to the last remaining evidence of manhood that separates pre-op transsexual Marieta (formerly Adolfo) from becoming a woman. Marieta's life is a rough one: she's a prostitute with narcolepsy, which makes her doubly vulnerable to nasty clients, but her condition also offers a form of salvation as she falls into deep dreams where she's the star of splashy if rather low-rent looking musical numbers centered around tunes like Madonna's “True Blue” and Dusty Springfield's “I Only Want to Be With You.” Real-life salvation also comes from a very unlikely source: Raul, the cute stock boy at Marieta's local supermarket. Ramón Salazar's dark comedy is clearly in Almodóvar territory, but never quite finds its place because of a screenplay that seems to be suffering from Attention Deficit Disorder (was the subplot about the dwarf roommate and the latchkey child in the upstairs apartment really necessary?). However, Mónica Cervera's Marieta is a bold creation of extremes: in her waking hours, she's one of the least attractive prostitutes imaginable, but in her dreams she's a total knockout. 20 Centimeters may be unfocused, but when it's on track, it is definitely entertaining. An optional purchase. (P. Hall)