La Niña De Fuego (or) Magical Girl  (Spanish, 2014)

In spite of the plot being driven by the needs of an unemployed father, the cynosure is an alluring female character, Bárbara Lennie. She convincingly plays the role of a disturbed wife who is stupid & mysterious at the same time.

Another character that delights is an old man, played expertly by José Sacristán, whose past is never revealed. He delights with his impeccable expressions & clarity in modulating dialogues. The literature teacher Luis is just about adequate.

Plot-wise the film the film combines typical noir elements that involve sex, blackmail and murder. There is also an ode to Japanese Anime with the expensive dress of Japanese cartoon series “Magical Girl Yukiko” that the ailing girl covets.

It is one of those films where silence is given as much importance as the background music. And whenever it comes on, brings out the Spanish flavor.

In spite of mainly catering to art-house audiences, the film certainly messes up the third act big time with the audience being left to fend for themselves with respect to the ending. The film also seems to rely heavily on coincidences in how the three main characters meet and there is never anything organic.

It is also tough to accept how an educated literature teacher would blindly buy a 7000 Euro dress & a wand for a child and not think of other means (stitching a similar one for example) of satisfying her.