Product Details

• Actors: Verónica Forqué, Carmen Maura, Marisa Paredes, Mercedes Sampietro, Betiana Blum
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
• Language: Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Liberation Ent
• DVD Release Date: December 5, 2006
• Run Time: 107 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000IY04SG
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #83,260 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Queens" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Studio: Wea-des Moines Video Release Date: 06/17/2008 Run time: 105 minutes Rating: R

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars QUEENS Resounds with Style, Terrific Writing and a Great Cast : A Winner!, December 5, 2006

By 

Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Queens (DVD)

Director Manuel Gómez Pereira has long been respected both in Spain and around the world for his edgy, hilarious, clever and wildly entertaining films. Writing with Yolanda García Serrano he has hit the mark with QUEENS ('Reinas') not only in taking on controversial subject matter and creating a successful comedy out of politically dangerous topic, but he has also done so by avoiding the usual pitfalls of gay stereotypes, making the focus of this film about Spain's approval of gay marriages not on the men involved, but instead on their mothers - the real Queens.

The story is fairly straightforward (if you will): there is to be a group wedding of gay couples in which three of the couples involved have frantic problems with their mothers' attending. Some of the mothers approve, others despair, others take advantage of the situation to meet their own needs. The effect of these 'double mothers-in-law' on the six men involved is packed with surprises, secrets, bizarre behavior, confessions, manifestations of life patterns less than reputable, and whirling dervish spins on acceptance.

The mothers are portrayed by some of the finest actresses in Spanish cinema: Marisa Paredes portrays Reyes, a famous actress (hysterically identified as Carmen Maura) whose class refuses to accept the cat that her son is marrying her gardener's son; Carmen Maura (yes) plays Magda, the owner of a new hotel chain catering to gays; Verónica Forqué is Nuria, a sex addicted nymphomaniac whose drives don't prevent her form bringing her lusts home to her family; Mercedes Sampietro plays Judge Helena who barely tolerates the effect of a public wedding of her son on her career but ends up being forced to perform the ceremony; and Argentine actress Betiana Blum is Ofelia, a restaurant owner/worker who arrives form Buenos Aires for the wedding with her runabout dog causing antics that threaten her son's relationship. The sons are played to perfection and without the slightest bit of stereotypical behavior we usually encounter in these films by six excellent actors: Gustavo Salmerón, Unax Ugalde, Hugo Silva, Daniel Hendler, Paco León, and Raúl Jiménez.

Manuel Gómez Pereira makes fine use of flashbacks and flash-forwards that enhance the breakneck speed the story needs. There is enough tenderness on the part of every actor to offset the near-slapstick comedy scenes, and in the end the movie leaves the audience with a true sense of celebration - not only for the characters involved in the story but also with the forward movement of human rights in Spain. This is a highly entertaining, polished, classy film that deserves a very wide audience. Grady Harp, December 06

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Queens (Reinas) (2005), July 5, 2010

By 

Elisa (Italy) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Queens (DVD)

The movie obviously plays with the word "queens". Queens are the grooms who are planning their collective marriage soon after Spain recognition of their right; truth be told no one of them is a real "queen", maybe only Miguel, the son of wealthy hotel chain owner, Carmen Maura, who has problem to be in synthony with his future husband's mother and also her dog. His lover is fitness trainer Oscar who is all but not flamboyant. Then there is lawyer Hugo and his politician future husband Narciso. Where Hugo is still fighting his homosexuality, Narciso is all for being out and proud... but there will be some cheating around from both side that will put in danger their future marriage. And finally there are sweet lovers Jonas and Rafa, two former teenager fiancees that, despite social status difference and the issue between their respective parents, fought against everyone and everything to finally be able to claim their love.

BTW the second meaning of the word "queens" refers to all the great female actresses who play the role of the mothers.

The movie is a classical example of modern Spanish cinema, a choral movie full of situation and great actors, with a funny mood that never let go down the smile.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars En el estilo de Almodóvar, but probably closest to KM.0, October 25, 2007

By 

Andy Orrock (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Queens (DVD)

'Reinas' features three significant muses of Pedro Almodóvar - Verónica Forqué, Carmen Maura and Marisa Paredes. The backstory is that director / collaborating writer Manuel Gómez Pereira wanted to feature four Almodóvarian staples, targeting Victoria Abril as his fourth (which would have been a real coup). Instead, the fourth role went to Mercedes Sampietro, not as well known to US audiences but a regal presence in Spanish television. The fifth Queen is Betiana Blum, an Argentinian whose high-energy presence is perfect for this often-screwball comedy.

Reinas is all about these ladies. That their gay sons are getting married seems hardly the point to Gómez Pereira - those young actors are just part of the woodwork, staying mostly to the sidelines as these ladies chew through the scenery.

There are two standouts on the male side though: Lluís Homar - who US audiences know as the tempted priest in Bad Education - is a Catalan ringer for Kelsey Grammer (he's Paredes' gardener/wanna-be paramour); and it's a delight to see the wonderful Cuban actor Jorge Perugorría (he's hotel owner Maura's chef/dish on the side). [You want to see great acting? Check out Perugorría in Strawberry & Chocolate and then in Guantanamera.]

The movie itself is like an homage to Almodóvar (Paredes' character even references him directly), but in look and feel I think it's closer to the nice little movie KM.0 (Kilometer Zero. Original Spanish Version w/ English Subtitles). Both feature impossible contrivances that don't get carried off as well as Almodóvar does it, but they're enjoyable nevertheless.