With an “Almodóvarian” twist and the flamboyance of The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, director Ramón Salazar’s 20 Centimeters tells the story of Marieta (Mónica Cervera) a narcoleptic, transsexual woman who longs to get rid of 8 inches of equipment that separates her from being the glamorous person she dreams to be. When she accidentally falls asleep, usually during the most inopportune times, Marieta’s dreams become lavish and colorful musical numbers, where as a real woman she can sing in Spanish, French & English.
Surrounded by her “family” which includes Ice Box (Rossy de Palma of Almodóvar fame); Tom6s (Miguel Dogherty) an aspiring cellist who happens to be a dwarf; Berta (Concha Galan) her neighbor who longs to move to Brazil; and spaced-out Bunny (Najwa Nimri), Marieta finds support among her chaotic and comical street-life.
One day at the market, Marieta meets a handsome man only known as the “fruit stockee’ (Pablo Puyol) who falls in love with her, exactly the way she is. While Marieta’s heart grows fonder of her new paramour, she finds those feelings conflicting with her desire to become the person she is destined to be. And nothing, not even love, will keep our spunky heroine from making her dream become reality.
20 Centimeters features songs that were originally performed by Queen, Madonna, Ani Di Franco, Dusty Springfield and Spanish pop stars Marisol, Fangoria and Sabrina.
