Gloria

Writer/Director Sebastián Lelio’s Gloria is a fun little romp about a 50-something woman, played by Paulina Garcia, who frequents clubs and activities where she’ll meet men and, hopefully, find true romance.

What’s most interesting about this film is something that I’ve only witnessed in theater before.  That is, the actress, while doing giving a superb performance of her character is, also, transcending the production itself.  In other words, she is bigger than the production in which she is participating.  It’s almost like an Academy Award winner playing in a community theater role.  The production might be wonderful, but, all the while, you’re focused on the star performer…not at all wondering, why she is doing this…, but not really caring much about anything but her.

Gloria is a little story with a big actress, who, it's no wonder, won Best Actress at the Berlin Film Festival.  I give it a 3 out of 5, but Paulina Garcia gets a 4+ and the film is worth seeing for that reason alone.