Perras

In a claustrophobic classroom at Calmecatl Junior High, a grim standstill takes hold as students and staff try to uncover who betrayed the trust that keeps them locked inside. The setup becomes a lens on a group of young women who are really thirty-something actresses playing 14 and 15 year olds, watching as ethics, games, aesthetics and erotic tension collide. The story threads together many concerns: the awakening of sexuality, social bias, chance, drugs, motherhood, inherited traditions, betrayals, power and love, all filtered through the complicated minds of twenty-something women wearing the skins of adolescent girls. The result is a mural of a layered, uneasy reality rather than a simple thriller. The camera lingers on expressions and silences, turning small gestures into clues.

Directed by Guillermo Ríos, Perras released in 2011. The film presents an original concept focused on a locked classroom scenario and the fraught dynamics among young women played by older actresses. The production choices reflect a gritty, intimate aesthetic, with close ups and narrow framing that heighten the sense of entrapment.

Awards: There are no major nominations publicly listed for Perras. Some niche outlets may discuss its bold approach, but it did not feature in the prominent awards circuit at international festivals.

Cultural Impact: The film has a limited mainstream footprint, with few quotes or scenes that have permeated popular culture. It is mostly discussed within niche circles for its bold treatment of adolescence and power within a claustrophobic setting.

Reception & Themes: Critics note a provocative handling of sexuality, discrimination, tradition, betrayal and love seen through the gaze of twenty-something performers inhabiting teenage roles. The result is a stark, stylized portrait of youth, authority and desire in a contained social space. The film uses performers older than the characters to look at the distance between appearance and reality.