My Dearest Señorita
Harrowing Spanish remake depicting the struggle and shame of those who do not fit into boxes.
Elisabeth Martínez.
Photo courtesy of Netflix.
by ELOISE BARKER
In hushed tones, a husband and wife argue passionately about their new-born, the protagonist: Adela. She is inter-sex, neither man nor woman, fitting in neither box.
Set in Pamplona in 1999, My Dearest Señorita features Adela (Elisabeth Martínez), who is unaware of her condition and lives an isolated existence with her parents and grandmother, working as a teacher and at her father’s antique shop. She stands a foot above her mother and lives in shame at her physique, nicknamed “la caballo,” the horse, by neighbours and acquaintances. One of her few friends, José (Paco León), is a priest who helps Adela realise that she cannot live in the confines of her parents’ house, that she needs to be free, encouraging her to take risks and to make mistakes. It is José who delivers the impactful line: “people are afraid of tall women and effeminate men,” a resounding message about the cruelty of society.
Adela has spent the large part of her youth alone and isolated, trapped by the love of her mother who simply wanted to protect her but who suffocated her in the process. In the new millennium, Adela runs away to Madrid to discover herself and to learn not to be ashamed, discovering the beauties of freedom, friendship and desire. And so Adela grapples to come to terms with her intersexuality, struggling to find her identity, living outside the box.
Fernando G. Molina’s film, a free adaptation of the 1972 Spanish drama of the same name, contains some harrowing scenes, in which Adela’s confusion and anger are palpable. The initial, dull colours of Pamplona contrast greatly to the vivid pride flags that later explode onto the screen, visually affirming the importance of self-expression, and more importantly freedom, to gain happiness. However, at times the film risks becoming too repetitive with Adela's struggles over her identity and perhaps should have focused more on desire and love, or even intimacy, particularly with the delightful performance of Anna Castillo as Isabel, Adela's flirtatious friend. Overall, though, My Dearest Señorita is an enjoyable if sombre experience and a worthwhile watch, offering an insight into the unnecessary shame experienced by those who are intersex.
Original title: Mi querida señorita.
Cast: Elisabeth Martínez, Anna Castillo, Paco León, Nagore Aranburu, Manu Ríos, Eneko Sagardoy, Lola Rodríguez, María Galiana.
Dir Fernando G. Molina, Pro Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo, Screenplay Alana S. Portero, from the screenplay by José Luis Borau and Jaime de Armiñán, Ph Carlos Rigo Bellver, Pro Des Patrick Salvador, Ed Verónica Callón, Music Álex de Lucas and Zahara, Costumes Ana López Cobos, Sound Sergio Bürmann.
Suma Content-Netflix.
116 mins. Spain. 2026. UK and US Rel: 1 May 2026. 2026. Cert. 15.
