In the middle of his worse love crisis ever, Manuel will have to pass himself off as his friend Coca’s fiancé, to help her face her conservative family with the news of her unexpected pregnancy –– the result of one night of passion. The hidden identities, the misunderstandings and the tension of the two friends pretending what they are not, give rise to many a humorous situation, one after another. This, until Manuel decides to settle the matter once and for all… without concern about the consequences that this could bring.

Director Raul Marchand and screenwriter Jose Ignacio Valenzuela are innovative storytellers with an extraordinary sense of humor and visual flare, they have cleverly molded a delightfully appealing film. Deep inside, Manuel has always been Manuela. But in the middle of her worst love crisis, Manuela reinvents herself as Manuel in order to pass as the fiancée of her best friend Coca –who is pregnant from a one-night stand and must face her conservative family.

Hidden identities, misunderstandings, and the tension between two friends pretending to be what they are not, create a colorful and up–beat story, with gorgeous drag performances to boot. Brilliantly executed, the film artfully combines the surreal, the comic, the poignant and the tragic, crafting a potent story about identities –both hidden and overt. And the fabulous ensemble cast is infectious and fun to watch!

CREW:
Script — José Ignacio Valenzuela
Director — Raúl Marchand
Production Designer — Rafi Mercado
Production — Frances Lausell
Executive Production — Sonia Fritz
Associated Production — Ileana Ciena
CAST:
Manuel — Humberto Busto
Coca — Elena Iguina
Faraona — Marian Pabón
Rosa — Luz María Rondón
Germán — Sunshine Logroño
Norma — Marisol Calero
Margarita — Ineabelle Colón
Arturo — Israel Lugo
Ramón — Johnny Lozada

Shaz Bennett
AFI Fest
2007

Amazon USA – DVD

En medio de su peor crisis amorosa, Manuel tendrá que hacerse pasar por el novio de su amiga Coca, quien se enfrenta a su familia conservadora con un embarazo resultado de una noche de pasión. Las identidades ocultas, los malos entendidos, y la tensión de dos amigos tratando de ser lo que no son dan pie a una situación cómica tras otra. Hasta que Manuel decide dar solución al asunto de una vez y por todas… sin importarle las consecuencias que eso pueda acarrear.

“Manuela y Manuel es una comedia muy ágil y cómoda, muy “almodovariana”. Tiene un punto exacto entre agilidad y tragicomedia”.
Francisco López Villarejo,
Crítico de cine.
Huelva, España.

EQUIPO REALIZADOR:
Guión — José Ignacio Valenzuela
Dirección — Raúl Marchand
Diseño de Producción — Rafi Mercado
Producción — Frances Lausell
Producción Ejecutiva — Sonia Fritz
Producción Asociada — Ileana Ciena

ELENCO:
Manuel — Humberto Busto
Coca — Elena Iguina
Faraona — Marian Pabón
Rosa — Luz María Rondón
Germán — Sunshine Logroño
Norma — Marisol Calero
Margarita — Ineabelle Colón
Arturo — Israel Lugo
Ramón — Johnny Lozada

Shaz Bennett
AFI Fest
2007

Amazon USA – DVD