Paloma Suau currently brings the classic “Lady of the Camellia”

Making a movie in the middle of a pandemic can be a living manifestation of magical realism. Working “bubbles” must be raised, and the body of talent and technicians must be admitted there, constant COVID-19 tests must be performed, physical contact must be limited, so it is a new way of making films that is accepted as presented or thrown away.

Director Paloma Suau has accepted the challenge proposed by producer Rafael Abudo Massó to take a screenplay in October 2020, to bring it to the present – both physically and textually – and to start bringing it to life in room this month. It was the occasion that the Puerto Rican filmmaker longed for.

“Some time ago I was looking forward to being called as a director and not having to produce, because it is very difficult to do both and I was looking forward to being called to hire and do something,” Suau said. .

The script, as originally presented, did not link it. It was a tragic version of the novel “Lady Camellia” (1848) which, fortunately, had the freedom to transform, bringing it to the present in an authentic Puerto Rican context. Therefore, “Las Camellias” was born, a film that takes place in a somewhat more advanced time in the pandemic, preserving the nuances of the original world of the dancer and prostitute “Margarita”, played by Denise Quiñones.

“It’s a classic work, but we’re navigating a sea of ​​clichés and I wanted to see how this turned into a kind of homage to something that is part of our idiosyncrasy, because clichés are real and make up a lot of who we are. , but the challenge was how to navigate without making a charrería, making a good film, and then I said, the only way to do this is to change the pace, modernize it and look for humor through characters played by some first-class actors and creating these relationships within them, in which we achieve this language that, although we take it seriously, makes us laugh “, said the director.

The cast consists of Xavier Morales, Mickey Negrón, Anushka Medina, José E. Hernández, Salomé Monroig (daughter of Glenn Monrig, Suau’s sister), Erick Rodríguez, Junior Álvarez, Carola García, Yan Collazo, Bryan Villarini, Luis O’Farrill , Marian Pabón, Israel Lugo, Cristina Soler, Modesto Lacén, Cordelia González, Camila Monclova, Heyda Salamán, Braulio Castillo, Jr. and Alexandra Malagón, among others.

“There is no disrespect for death, or COVID, or all the serious things that happen, or impossible loves, but in the situation it is done in a way that we laugh, because even in the ugly there are always beautiful things and There is always humor in everything, ”Suau reflected on the optimistic message he is trying to leave in public.

“If you don’t know how to turn the tragedy into something you can laugh at, we will continue to get caught, because these are very difficult times,” he said.

“Las Camellias” begins with the character “Margarita” (Quiñones), to whom the owner of the brothel, “Osman” (Junior Álvarez), announces that a major television producer will visit them at night, which fuels his illusion of leaving that environment. another world. On the same night, “Armando Vidal” (Xavier Morales) arrives at the club to enjoy the bachelor party and there is confusion, very typical of error comedies, which begins a love triangle between these characters.

The disguised character “Rubí”, represented by Villarini, is a tribute of the director to the late Antonio Pantojas, who at that time played “Mrs. Camelia”.

“Another happy accident”

Honoring the title of his latest documentary, “The Happy Accident”, Suau spoke enthusiastically about the content of the project of his works on set. On Monday, he completed the first stage of filming in the “bubble” created in Aguadilla and today begins the second in San Lorenzo, which will last three days. The last one will be two weeks in Aibonito.

“It was wonderful, I wanted to do a narrative feature for a long time, it was completely collaborative,” he said. At the cinematic level, it “plays a lot” with the sensory, so it combines long photos with cameras with transitions to short and closed photos.

Working on stage with Denise, he said, was a delight. He previously directed her in the “Elena Santos” project.

“The work he does is so extraordinary in his characterization … He is a person who works in a team,” he explained.

Both will have their first experience of directing a sex scene, one as a director and the other as an actress. “It’s a relief to have a lead actress playing.”

At the technical level, “Las camelias” integrates Abudo Massó, executive product; Yamara Rodríguez, producer, Willie Berríos, director of photography; Luis Edgardo Maldonado and Emilio Olabarrieta, art; Tita Núñez, wardrobe; Bryan Villarini and his team, makeup and sound, Margarita Aponte.

The songs in the film, “En boca de todos” and “Vamo ‘there there”, are compositions by Glenn Monroig, which will be performed by Denise Quiñones and Salomé Monroig, respectively.

Filming will end on March 15 in San Juan.