The Tenderness () is a 2023 Spanish-Dominican fantasy comedy film directed and written by based on the play by which stars Emma Suárez, Gonzalo de Castro, Alexandra Jiménez, Fernando Guallar, Anna Moliner, and Carlos Cuevas.

Plot

Misandric witch-queen Esmeralda manages to escape from the West Indies Fleet and settle in a desert island with her two daughters (princesses Rubí and Salmón) so they can be free from the influence of men, but the island actually happens to be inhabited by a misogynistic logger and his two sons (loggers Verdemar and Azulcielo), so the women cross-dress as men.

The Tenderness

Cast

Production

The film is a Spanish-Dominican co-production by Priss&Batty, La Ternura la película AIE, and Bahía Carey with the participation of RTVE and Movistar Plus+. Shooting locations included Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Madrid and the Cosón Beach near Samaná.

The Tenderness

Release

The film received a pre-screening at Cines Kinépolis of Paterna on 25 September 2023. It was also scheduled to screen at the during a RTVE gala of the 71st San Sebastián International Film Festival on 28 September 2023. Distributed by Universal Pictures International Spain, it was released theatrically in Spain on 29 September 2023.

The Tenderness

Reception

Enid Román Almansa of Cinemanía rated the film 4½ out of 5 stars, assessing that the film is as eccentric and crazy as it is fun.

See also

List of Spanish films of 2023

References

Spanish romantic comedy films

Spanish fantasy comedy films

Dominican Republic romantic comedy films

2020s Spanish-language films

2020s Spanish films

Films about mother–daughter relationships

Films about father–son relationships

Spanish films based on plays

Films scored by Fernando Velázquez

Films shot in the Dominican Republic

Films shot in the Canary Islands

Films about royalty

Cross-dressing in film