A pure-hearted but feisty young woman is forced to work in cabaret in 1950's Aventurera. This delicious, spicy melodrama stars Ninon Sevilla as poor Elena, who descends into the life of elaborately themed musical numbers in Juarez. Will she survive the shame when she even starts to like it?
Elena is the daughter of wealthy, classy parents and she's on the cusp of womanhood. Then she discovers her mother's having an affair and her father commits suicide. One thing leads to another and, after a cheap hoodlum called Lucio gets her drunk, she winds up in the clutches of a manipulative brothel/cabaret madam called Rosaura.
All this is to provide context to the audience who could then enjoy watching her gyrate barelegged in glittery costumes knowing all the while that her heart is untainted by the sin of performing arts.
Sevilla is an absolute delight to behold. She's beautiful and a talented dancer but it's her constant mugging that makes her a real delight. In scene after scene, she faces the camera while people talk about her in the background and a range of emotions play out on her face at a thousand decibels. I hope she never played high stakes poker.
Aventurera is available on The Criterion Channel as part of a spotlight on Ninon Sevilla this month.
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