Antonio Giménez-Rico | 1983 | Spain | 98’ | Digital | Spanish spoken, English subtitles 

Filmed in 1981, as Spain was navigating its transition to democracy after Franco’s death, Vestida de azul follows six transgender women living in Madrid, speaking openly about their lives in a country still redefining itself. Moving between conversations held around a table and moments drawn from everyday life, questions of work, desire, family, visibility, and survival surface with humour, tension, and honesty. 

We see the women at home and with their families, preparing their bodies, navigating love and sex work, and confronting a police presence that continues to shape their daily lives. Their conversations are direct, sometimes confrontational, and often playful, resisting any single point of view. 

This film is a seminal work of queer Spanish cinema, in which director Antonio Giménez-Rico gives women the space to present themselves on their own terms. 

Premiered at the San Sebastián Film Festival in 1983, the film was released successfully in commercial cinemas across Spain before later disappearing from circulation. Now restored, it has begun to re-emerge, returning to cinemas and festivals as a work that continues to speak across time.

With an introduction by Marta Calderón. Followed by a Q&A with Nacha Sánchez. 

With the support of Instituto Cervantes.

This event is available with the OCDF Bundle at Rich Mix: 6 events for £30.