Carmen & Lola

Carmen & Lola is a 2018 Spanish drama directed by Arantxa Echevarría that follows two young Romani women in Madrid who fall in love. The film explores the tension between their forbidden relationship and the traditional, patriarchal expectations of their close-knit Roma community. It was one of the first Spanish films to depict a lesbian romance within a Romani cultural context.

Zaira Romero plays Carmen and Rosy Rodríguez plays Lola, both delivering acclaimed performances in the film. Several cast members were non-professional actors drawn from the Romani community, lending the film significant cultural authenticity. Echevarría spent considerable time researching within Roma communities in Madrid to ensure accuracy in the portrayal.

Yes, Carmen & Lola was presented in competition within the Directors' Fortnight program at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. The selection brought international attention to Arantxa Echevarría's feature directorial debut. The film went on to receive multiple Goya Award nominations in Spain, including recognition for Echevarría.

The film sparked significant discussion within Spain about the intersection of LGBTQ+ identity and traditional Roma cultural expectations. Director Arantxa Echevarría collaborated with community members during production and cast non-professional Roma actors to increase authenticity. The portrayal was praised by many critics for its nuance, though some within the community debated the representation of their cultural practices.