New Film from Mexico Explores the World of “The Chambermaid” August 5, 2019
The Chambermaid (La camarista) is a film about Eve (Gabriela Cartol), a young mother who cleans rooms in a luxury hotel in Mexico City.
The young woman hopes for two things. One, she works on the 21st floor and learns of an opening for a better position on the 42nd floor. Two, a guest leaves a red dress—and the hotel gives lost-and-found items to its employees if no one claims them.
Inside the Box
We see most of The Chambermaid from inside the hotel. We know about the outside world from the conversations, but the film itself never veers away from the hotel. The Chambermaid centers on the enclosing feeling that daily work life can bring for its workers. We might think of hotels as places in flux, but for the staff, the building and social space can be one of confinement. This is what the film exposes.
Outside the Box
The Chambermaid makes me feel uneasy. It captures the monotony of Eve’s daily work routine. We see how she is helpful to others but does not receive the same attention or support. This film explains how people are often sidetracked from their objectives and how some are unable to reciprocate a supportive work environment. The Chambermaid leaves me with an unnerving feeling. My hope is that this film will help people think outside of the box.
► The Chambermaid (La camarista) screens on Saturday, August 17, at 7 p.m. & Sunday, August 18, at 5 p.m. Watch the trailer & get your tickets.
