The Girls at the station (2024) by Juana Macías

About the movie (summary): “Las chicas de la estación” (The Girls at the Station) is a 2024 Spanish drama film directed by Juana Macías, with a runtime of 118 minutes. The film follows three teenage girls who have grown up in a juvenile center and explores their desires, vulnerabilities, and the harsh realities they face as they navigate their young lives.

Plot summary: Jara, Álex, and Miranda are three young women who have spent their formative years in a juvenile center, never knowing unconditional love. As Jara’s birthday approaches, she dreams of celebrating it by attending a concert by her favorite trap queen. However, to make this happen, the girls need money. Jara knows they possess something that certain men desire, hinting at a difficult and potentially dangerous path they might take to achieve their goal. The film is expected to delve into their experiences, their bond, and the challenges they face as they try to carve out moments of joy and freedom within their constrained circumstances.

Director’s Vision: Juana Macías aimed to bring freshness, truth, and emotion to a sensitive and difficult subject, likely focusing on the perspectives and experiences of the young protagonists. Her direction seems to combine rawness and sensitivity in the visual narrative, contrasting moments of youthful freedom with the harsh realities of their situation.

• Child Prostitution: The film tackles the delicate and serious issue of the prostitution of minors, bringing it to the forefront of the narrative.

• Desire for Freedom: The girls’ yearning to celebrate Jara’s birthday at a concert symbolizes their broader desire for freedom and experiences beyond the confines of the juvenile center.

• Vulnerability and Exploitation: The plot suggests themes of vulnerability and the potential for exploitation that the young women face.

• Friendship and Solidarity: The bond between Jara, Álex, and Miranda, having grown up together, likely forms a crucial emotional core of the film.

• Loss of Innocence: The circumstances of their lives and the choices they contemplate suggest a theme of lost innocence and the premature exposure to adult realities.

• Focus on a Relevant and Sensitive Social Issue: Addressing the issue of child prostitution can bring attention to an important and often overlooked problem.

• Debut Performances: The film stars newcomers Julieta Tobío, Salua Hadra, and María Steelman, whose performances could be a key factor in the film’s impact.

• Juana Macías’ Direction: Her ability to combine rawness and sensitivity in the narrative could contribute to a powerful and engaging film.

• Authentic Portrayal of Youth: The film aims to depict the current generation of young people realistically, including their language and interests.

• Recognition at International Film Festivals: Winning an award at the International Film Festival for Children and Young Audience SCHLiNGEL indicates positive reception from a specific audience segment.

Summary short: Three teenage girls in a juvenile center seek a way to celebrate a birthday, leading them to consider dangerous options to gain the necessary money.

Awards and nominations (summary in words): “Las chicas de la estación” (2024) has received one win and two nominations. It won the Award of the Youth Jury for Best International Feature Film in the Category “Youth Film” at the International Film Festival for Children and Young Audience SCHLiNGEL in 2024. The film has also received two nominations at the Premios Carmen in 2025 for Best Original Score (Isabel Royán) and Best New Actress (María Steelman).

Critics reception (mention sites, add text, summary): Initial critical reception suggests a nuanced approach to a difficult topic.

• Cineuropa notes that Juana Macías’s film brings freshness, truth, and emotion to the delicate and thorny issue of child prostitution.

• A user review on Filmaffinity mentions that the film gains interest as it progresses and portrays contemporary youth well, including their language and music. However, it also suggests that the film could have delved deeper into the central theme and offered a stronger social critique. The reviewer praises Juana Macías’s visual narrative for combining rawness and sensitivity, highlighting the contrast between moments of youthful freedom and the heartbreaking events of the plot, which reinforces the protagonists’ sense of despair and vulnerability.

Overall, the early critical response indicates that the film tackles a challenging subject with sensitivity, though some reviewers suggest there was room for a more profound exploration. The award win from the youth jury at SCHLiNGEL suggests a positive reception from its target audience.

Reviews about movie (mention sites, add text summary): More comprehensive online reviews are likely to emerge. Currently, the available feedback points to a film that attempts to handle a sensitive topic with a blend of realism and emotional depth, with recognition from a youth-focused film festival.

Box office: As of March 13, 2025, “Las chicas de la estación” has a worldwide box office gross of $73,865.

Production (summary, add sentence): “Las chicas de la estación” is a Spanish production directed by Juana Macías. The film was co-written by Macías and Isa Sánchez, with principal photography taking place in Madrid and Palma de Mallorca. The involvement of numerous production companies highlights the collaborative effort behind this project.

Production companies (name, country):

• Ayuntamiento de Madrid (Spain)

• Comunidad de Madrid (Spain)

• Crea SGR (Spain)

• Feelgood Media (Spain)

• IB3 Televisió (Spain)

• Instituto de Crédito Oficial (ICO) (Spain)

• Instituto de la Cinematografía y de las Artes Audiovisuales (ICAA) (Spain)

• Kowalski Films (Spain)

• La Perifèrica Produccions (Spain)

• Las chicas de la estación (Spain)

• Movistar Plus+ (Spain)

• Radio Televisión Española (RTVE) (Spain)

Sales companies (name, country, sentence):

Distribution companies (name, country, sentence):

• A Contracorriente Films (Spain). This Spanish company handled the theatrical distribution of “Las chicas de la estación” within Spain, releasing it on November 22, 2024.

• Film Factory Entertainment (Spain). This company is also listed as a distributor, likely managing the international distribution and release of the film in territories outside of Spain.

Why to recommend this movie (with bullets, text):

• For its courageous exploration of a difficult social issue: The film directly addresses the sensitive topic of child prostitution, which is an important conversation to have and can offer viewers a deeper understanding of this reality.

• For its potential to offer a realistic portrayal of the lives of young people in challenging circumstances: The film aims to depict the realities faced by teenagers in the juvenile system, providing a glimpse into their struggles and desires.

• For the opportunity to witness the performances of emerging young actresses: Julieta Tobío, Salua Hadra, and María Steelman are making their debut, and their performances have the potential to be raw and impactful.

• For its recognition at an international film festival: Winning an award from the youth jury at SCHLiNGEL suggests the film resonates with younger audiences and effectively conveys its message.

Why You Should Watch Movie (with bullets, text):

• If you are interested in Spanish cinema that tackles social issues: Juana Macías is a known Spanish director, and this film promises to engage with a significant topic relevant to contemporary society.

• To gain a perspective on the lives of young people within the juvenile system: The film offers a glimpse into a world that is often unseen and can foster empathy and understanding.

• If you appreciate films that blend rawness with emotional sensitivity: The director’s approach suggests a film that will handle its subject matter with care while still being impactful and thought-provoking.

• To support emerging talent in the Spanish film industry: The film features debut performances from its lead actresses and showcases the work of Spanish filmmakers.

What Movie Trend film is following (name of the trend, summary):

• Name of the trend: Social Issue Drama

• Summary: “Las chicas de la estación” aligns with the trend of social issue dramas that aim to shed light on important and often uncomfortable societal problems. By focusing on the issue of child prostitution and the lives of young people in the juvenile system, the film seeks to raise awareness and potentially spark dialogue about these critical topics.

What Big Social Trend is following (name of the trend, summary):

• Name of the trend: Awareness of Child Exploitation and Vulnerable Youth

• Summary: The film taps into the growing social trend of increasing awareness and concern regarding child exploitation and the challenges faced by vulnerable youth within societal structures. By focusing on young women in the juvenile system and the dangers they face, the film contributes to the broader conversation about protecting children and addressing systemic issues that lead to their exploitation.

Final Verdict: “Las chicas de la estación” (2024) by Juana Macías is a Spanish drama that tackles the sensitive and important issue of child prostitution within the context of a juvenile center. With an award win from the International Film Festival for Children and Young Audience SCHLiNGEL and nominations at the Premios Carmen, the film has garnered some early recognition. While initial critical reception suggests a nuanced approach, the film’s focus on vulnerable youth and its exploration of challenging realities make it a potentially impactful and thought-provoking watch for audiences interested in social issue dramas and contemporary Spanish cinema.