Donaire y Esplendor is a fresh and folkloric comedy about the "collective madness" better known as Carnaval in Panama. This film narrates the story about two youngers who fall deeply in love in a small town called Las Tablas, Los Santos province in Panama. Nothing special about this except for the fact that She belongs to "Calle Abajo" and he belongs to "Calle Arriba" (Yes, Down Street and Up Street) maybe this doesn't mean nothing to you.. well let me explain: basically if you belong to any of the streets you must hate people who belong the other street, annually every Street chooses their Carnaval Queen and a full machinery of people works for creates the best costumes, carriages, fireworks, tonadas (kind of songs against the other queen and their family and subjects)etc, etc etc. They fundraise money during all the year and prepare to celebrate during four days until the two Queens confront each other with their subjects in the main event that's called "El Topón". This is a strong tradition that have been practiced during many many years even some families have generations of queens like a monarchy. That's why is a Romeo and Juliet story because their love is just impossible. The movie is starring by a well looked, beautiful couple: sometimes they have chemistry sometimes not much but doesn't care "Esplendor" (Paul Voeller) is so handsome and "Donaire" (Gaby Garrido) have a lot of charisma, but for me the main dish and the great surprise of the movie was the mothers, the actresses who play the mothers are Analia (Gaby Gnazzo) and Vanesa (Lorna Cepeda) they steal the show! Both of them are obsessed with the traditions and Carnaval and they will do the necessary for separate their children. The rest of cast contributes to recreate this little madness and how is to live in a little town where everyone knows about everyone's life. Gaby Gnazzo maybe has the two strongest moments of the film (people clap in cinema every time) and how forget the incredibly speech of Lorna Cepeda, Carnaval is about work, love and passion, tears and blood! For any panamanian this movie is a must, even if you don't like carnaval, foreigns are going to laugh because of the unusual of the situations and with luck maybe you would like to visit us and you want to celebrate some Carnaval in Las Tablas.
