Schoolgirls
An observant Spanish coming-of-age drama in which an 11-year-old girl tests the limits of Catholic discipline, family silence, and social belonging.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- wistful
- intimate
- observant
- quiet afternoon
- reflective movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a precise, emotionally resonant portrait of puberty and prejudice, linking intimate girlhood experience to Spain's shifting social climate.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Celia is ostracized by classmates because she has no publicly acknowledged father, while Adela carries the consequences of having been an unwed mother.
Celia experiences the contrast between Spain's 1992 modernizing spectacle and the conservative rules governing her school and home.
Brisa's arrival leads Celia into new music, makeup, cigarettes, alcohol, dancing, and questions about belonging.
The film places Expo '92, the Barcelona Olympics, and contemporary music alongside convent-school discipline and restrictive family expectations.
Films like Schoolgirls, and why
The Spirit of the Beehive
shared female coming-of-age focus, repressive Catholic environment, and understated social realism
The Secret of the Bees
shared adolescent identity formation, institutional repression, and intimate mother-daughter drama
Petite Maman
shared girlhood friendship, puberty, and emotionally observant period drama
Mustang
shared schoolgirl perspective, female friendship, and bittersweet social awakening
Movie Details
- Director
- Pilar Palomero
- Release Date
- 2020-09-04
- Runtime
- 97 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (122)
Cast
- Andrea Fandos
- Natalia de Molina
- Zoé Arnao
- Julia Sierra
- Francesca Piñón
- Leonor Bruna
- Ainara Nieto
- Elisa Martínez
- Carlota Gurpegui
- Mercè Mariné
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Schoolgirls about?
- An observant Spanish coming-of-age drama in which an 11-year-old girl tests the limits of Catholic discipline, family silence, and social belonging.
- What is Schoolgirls like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Schoolgirls as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Schoolgirls violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Schoolgirls.
- What did critics think of Schoolgirls?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a precise, emotionally resonant portrait of puberty and prejudice, linking intimate girlhood experience to Spain's shifting social climate.
- Which films are like Schoolgirls?
- Films with a similar feel include The Spirit of the Beehive, The Secret of the Bees, Petite Maman, and Mustang.
- How long is Schoolgirls?
- Schoolgirls runs 97 minutes.
- Where can I watch Schoolgirls?
- In United States, Schoolgirls is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
