Vecinas
2012 · 15m · España
Directed by Eli Navarro
Genres: comedy, LGBTQ+, romance
Mamen and Gloria have decided to take a step further in their relationship and live together. What they do not know is that this new life as a couple holds a surprise for them: Alicia and Paula are their neighbours, and they have a plan.
Picked by Zoe
The scouts
A queer rom-com with a 'surprise' neighbor plot is exactly the kind of premise that should feel tired, but Navarro's willingness to play it as genuine whimsy instead of irony or heavy-handedness actually subverts the genre expectation—even if the film itself doesn't quite break the mold.
The film sits comfortably in the tradition of ensemble romantic comedy, with clean scene construction and a clear narrative arc, though it lacks the formal invention or tonal precision that would elevate it beyond competent genre work.
Navarro commits fully to a single editing choice—letting scenes breathe with conversation rather than cutting for pace—which transforms what could be a sitcom premise into something genuinely intimate and character-driven, making every beat about connection rather than punchline.