Watch The Heiresses

The Heiresses is a 2018 Paraguayan drama film directed by Marcelo Martinessi. The film premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival, where it won the Silver Bear for Best Actress for Ana Brun's performance as Chela. The Heiresses tells the story of Chela (Ana Brun) and Chiquita (Margarita Irun), two middle-aged women from wealthy families in Asunción, Paraguay. The two women have been partners for over 30 years and live together in a decaying mansion filled with antiques and memories of their former, more affluent life.

The film starts with Chela driving her old Mercedes Benz around the city, selling off some of her antique furniture and belongings to pay off her mounting debts. It's apparent that she is struggling to make ends meet, and Chiquita, who is more outgoing and assertive, seems to be the only one taking care of the household.

However, everything changes when Chiquita is arrested and sent to jail for fraud, leaving Chela alone and without any source of income. Suddenly, she has to find ways to survive and adapt to a world that is foreign to her.

One day, she meets a group of wealthy older women who invite her to play a card game called Teerã, which involves betting on numbers and drinking gin. Chela's quiet and reserved nature is at odds with the lively and flamboyant personalities of the other women, but she soon becomes a regular at their gatherings.

Through her new friendships, Chela gains confidence, learns new skills, and starts to embrace life outside of her sheltered existence. She also meets Angy (Ana Ivanova), a much younger woman who drives her to her card game meetings and eventually becomes her love interest.

The Heiresses explores themes of class, aging, and identity, as Chela slowly comes to terms with her diminishing social status and redefines her sense of self. Ana Brun delivers a remarkable and nuanced performance as a woman who is discovering a new sense of independence and freedom in a society that has long taken her for granted.

The film is slow-paced and lyrical, with long takes and a muted color palette that reflects the characters' melancholic and introspective mood. Director Marcelo Martinessi shows great sensitivity in portraying the complex relationships between his characters and their environment, as well as the subtle power dynamics that underlie them.

Overall, The Heiresses is a thoughtful and poignant film that offers a rare glimpse into the lives of Paraguay's upper-class women and the challenges they face as they navigate a changing world. The film is a testament to the strength and resilience of its characters, who manage to find hope and beauty in the midst of adversity.

The Heiresses is a 2019 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 38 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6 and a MetaScore of 77.