Arantxa Echevarría’s assured debut Carmen & Lola revolves around two Roma teens in Madrid. The brassy Carmen, a high-school dropout, can’t wait to get married and become a hairdresser. The solitary Lola, a graffiti artist and closeted lesbian, longs to be a teacher. The women meet while working at their family’s market stalls, lust blooming with the touch of a hand. Soon they’re sneaking out for smoke breaks and passionate kisses. The potential for tragedy comes from their patriarchal community’s inability to accept same-sex romance, but the possibility for triumph lies with their stubbornness and strength. Bonus: The riot of sequins with which their culture celebrates even the most mundane occasions.
Carmen & Lola screens this afternoon at the 45th Seattle Film Festival. For a comprehensive breakdown of what’s showing this final week of SIFF, and when, visit The Stranger’s SIFF site.