The Red Pearl Queen (2020, Spain)
Short Film, Musical, Alzheimer, Student
Running Time: 13 minutes 13 seconds
Director: Miguel Ángel Romero Yepes
Writer: Miguel Ángel Romero Yepes
Producer: Daniel Villanueva
Cast: Chiqui Fernandez, Paco Marín, Yuniel Gil, Dabiel Villanueva, Giselle Ruiz, Ione Fornos, Paula Lázaro, Miguel Ángel Romero Yepes, Guiomar Suñé, Adrián Aparicio, Roberto Carabaza, Ester Borrull, Biel Blancafort, Óscar Gómez, David Pallarés, Luis Fernando Vázquez, Abel Balaguer, Álex Escudero, Paula Elias, Álex Parra, Jamonetti Erdi, Laura Olaya, Laia Vilalta, Magda Borrull, Irene Benavent, Ester Borrull, Alex Parra
Synopsis:
Valentín is the regent of the Lollipop Cabaret and is rehearsing with his son Red. Valentín’s sole purpose is to give his wife one last show in gratitude for his entire career. Red realizes what he wants and does not like what he is doing. He considers that it will not do any good since Olvido, a couple of weeks ago, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Red is quite touched by his mother’s illness and also because she herself decided to go to a residence.
Valentin goes to the residence to look for Olvido. It helps her get ready and groomed to take her to the Lollipop Cabaret. She does not know whether to trust her husband but she ventures to enjoy the surprise they have in store for her.
The first musical number in which Red and Valentín are rehearsing tells how Olvido arrived in the city fleeing her partner since he mistreated her because he did not accept that she was an actress and star. Once he has arrived in the city he meets Valentin and hand in hand they start a new life.
When Red finishes the musical number, he becomes involved with his father because he cannot understand what it is that leads him to do that.
They continue rehearsing the second musical number that draws how Olvido is affected by fear and uncertainty prior to being diagnosed with the disease.
Moments before the end of the musical number, Olvido greets Red from under the stage. Red breaks down and argues with his father because he doesn’t understand why he wants to make the whole family suffer.
Valentin together with Olvido sing the soundtrack of their lives and how we must move forward, without haste but without pause, to achieve happiness regardless of the circumstances that surround us.