Magical Girl

A father faces the impossible task of granting his terminally ill daughter's final wish, a collectors' costume from a beloved Japanese TV show that is priced far beyond reason. With money and his own conscience in tension, he slips into the city's darker corners, seeking a piece that seems almost mythical and perilous in its rarity. Along the way he meets people who blur the line between friend and foe, each offering a different angle on desire, loyalty, and sacrifice. The pursuit draws him into a shadowy network where someone always wants something in return and where a simple wish can unleash consequences no one anticipated. The film foregrounds character and mood, keeping the focus on moral tension rather than sensational reveals, and raises questions.

Released in 2014, Magical Girl was written and directed by Carlos Vermut. The film is Vermut's original screenplay and marks his breakout behind the camera, featuring Bárbara Lennie as Bárbara, José Sacristán as Damián, and Luis Bermejo as Luis.

Box office details are modest and primarily reflect a limited release outside Spain. The film earned attention in art house circuits rather than broad commercial success, with strongest impact coming from festival reverberations and critical praise, especially from international critics.

Magical Girl resonated beyond Spain for its confident blend of suspense and moral inquiry. Critics praised the performances of Bárbara Lennie and José Sacristán, while the film's emblematic wish costume sparked discussions about obsession and cost. Vermut's direction earned comparisons to contemporary Spanish thrillers, and its quiet formalism was noted.

Critics generally welcomed the film as a sharply controlled drama. The narrative strength lies in its examination of desire, sacrifice, and the blur between hero and opportunist. Characters face ethical choices under pressure, revealing how wealth and status distort memory and motive. Vermut favors ambiguity over easy answers.