An enjoyable if somewhat slow-burning biopic about the Spanish Vicenta María López (Cristina González del Valle), founder of the Congregation of the Religious of Mary Immaculate. Vicenta María López y Vicuña (22 March 1847 - 26 December 1890) was a Spanish professed religious and founder of the Religious of Mary Immaculate. Her order was dedicated to administering to "working girls", or young women in domestic employment, and she considered these maids and other domestic servants to be in need of care and protection, with particular emphasis on abused girls. It deals with Lera (Eva Jakubovska), a domestic worker, is accused of a crime. In the cell of a Civil Guard barracks she meets Mihaela and Julia (Elena Furiase), two prostitutes with whom she shares the story that saved her life. The story is that of Vicenta María López Vicuña (Cristina González del Valle), founder of the Religious of Mary Immaculate, who for more than 150 years has been dedicated to the promotion of women who left their villages to build a better future in domestic service in the capital. For a time Vicenta lived with her maternal aunt Eulalia de Vicuña (Assumpta Serna) who had founded a home for domestic workers and with her aunt helped form a group of women to care for these helpless girls. Later she discovered her religious vocation and entered a convent as a novice against the rigid opposition of her father....
The feature film focuses on Vicente María López/Cristina González del Valle and her mission of protecting the poor, orphans and disadvantaged women, describing her efforts, struggles and evangelization throughout her life, those first ideas, those first projects, of education and social adaptation of young girls through domestic work, acquiring different roots and personal development.
The film faithfully narrates her ambitions, dreams, goals and activities, seed sown in good soil that will bear much fruit. Its first protagonist is portrayed by the unknown Cristina González del Valle who provides a good as well as pleasant interpretation as Vicenta, a tenacious and innovative woman who opens paths in the field of education and in the defense of the human rights of exploited women. Her performance is full of vitality and enthusiasm.
The biographical story was convincingly written and directed by Pablo Moreno. It is worth thanking the effort and will with which Pablo Moreno executes his works. He usually has low or medium budgets but manages to skillfully direct decent films, narrated in a simple way, with good sets and an adequate development. He mostly uses unknown actors who give memorable performances, although it usually features two well-known actresses, the veteran Assumpta Serna and Elena Furiase, daughter of Lolita Flores. Pablo also made other religious, biographical and reflection films, Pablo De Tarso, Alba, A un Dios Prohibido, and Luz de soledad.
