Charm School (film)
| Charm School | |
|---|---|
Mexican theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Fernando Sariñana |
| Screenplay by |
|
| Produced by | Fernando Sariñana Gerardo Rene Arellano |
| Starring | Martha Higareda Blanca Guerra |
| Cinematography | Chava Cartas |
| Edited by | Óscar Figueroa |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Sony Pictures Releasing International |
Release date |
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Running time | 1h 40min |
| Country | Mexico |
| Language | Spanish |
| Box office | $7.2 million[1] |
Charm School (Spanish: Niñas mal; also titled Bad Girls) is a 2007 Mexican coming-of-age teen comedy film directed by Fernando Sariñana.[2][3][4] It stars Martha Higareda as Adela, a rebellious teenager who is sent to a strict finishing school run by Maca (Blanca Guerra), where she undergoes personal growth.
The film was released theatrically in Mexico on 9 March 2007 by Sony Pictures Releasing International. It received mixed reviews but was a commercial success, grossing over $7.2 million worldwide.[5] Niñas mal was adapted into a telenovela of the same name, produced by Sony Pictures Television and broadcast by MTV. In 2025, a spin-off of the telenovela, also produced by Sony, was announced.[6]
Plot
Adela is a rebellious young girl whose behavior causes tension with her politician father, accidentally sets a theater stage on fire during a performance, leading to her arrest and threatening her father's public image. To curb her behavior, her father confines her and insists that she attend Doña Macarena "Maca" Ribera's finishing school, promising to finance her long-awaited acting lessons in London if she complies.
At the school, Adela meets other students, including Maribel, who struggles with clumsiness; Valentina, a musically talented student sent due to personal conflicts with her family regarding her sexual orientation; Heidi, engaged to the son of a wealthy man and attending to learn etiquette; and Pia, a smart, bookish girl who faces challenges in forming romantic relationships. The girls attend lessons on embroidery, cooking, floral arrangement, etiquette, and homemaking, led by Maca, who encourages the girls to develop skills to create calm and order in their lives.
During her time at the school, Adela befriends the students and staff, assisting them with personal challenges, and develops a relationship with Emiliano, a maintenance worker. Over time, she begins to take her lessons seriously, learning to cooperate and empathize with Maca.
Adela's father faces political pressures culminating in a high-profile dinner intended to present Adela as well-mannered. During the event, she reveals family secrets and misunderstandings, challenging the adults' expectations and addressing the school's reputation. Following this, the students complete the course and pursue their individual paths: Heidi reconciles with her fiancé, Maribel opens her own finishing school, Valentina continues her music career with her girlfriend, Pia establishes a romantic relationship, and Adela departs for London to study acting. Maca leaves the school to start a television program.
Cast
- Martha Higareda as Adela León
- Blanca Guerra as Macarena 'Maca' Ribera
- Camila Sodi as Pía
- Cecilia Ludmila Ponce[7]
- Ximena Sariñana as Valentina
- María Aura as Maribel
- Alejandra Adame as Heidi
- Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez as Fina
- Salvador Sánchez as Monseñor
- Rafael Sánchez Navarro as Martín León
References
- ^ "Bad Girls (2007)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Ambriz, Marco González (11 February 2008). "Niñas Mal" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 18 April 2009.
- ^ Martin, Deborah (2019). The Child in Contemporary Latin American Cinema. Springer. p. 216. ISBN 9781137528223.
- ^ Aldama, Frederick L. (2013). Mex-Ciné: Mexican Filmmaking, Production, and Consumption in the Twenty-first Century. University of Michigan Press. p. 87. ISBN 9780472051939.
- ^ "Niñas Mal: Así lucen las protagonistas de la película a 14 años de su estreno". El Heraldo de México (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 September 2025.
- ^ CHÁVEZ, JULIETA (12 June 2025). "Señoras Mal llega para retomar la historia de las Niñas Mal". Hollywood Reporter (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 September 2025.
- ^ "Reparto Completo de Niñas mal". cine.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 February 2023.
External links
- Charm School at IMDb
- Charm School at the TCM Movie Database