The Tenderness

The Tenderness (La ternura) is a 2023 Spanish-Dominican fantasy comedy film directed and written by Vicente Villanueva based on the play by Alfredo Sanzol which stars Emma Suárez, Gonzalo de Castro, Alexandra Jiménez, Fernando Guallar, Anna Moliner, and Carlos Cuevas.

Plot
Misandric witch-queen Esmeralda manages to escape from the West Indies Fleet and settle in a desert island with her two daughters (princesses Rubí and Salmón) so they can be free from the influence of men, but the island actually happens to be inhabited by a misogynistic logger and his two sons (loggers Verdemar and Azulcielo), so the women cross-dress as men.

Cast
Cast listing:

Production
The film is a Spanish-Dominican co-production by Priss&Batty, La Ternura la película AIE, and Bahía Carey with the participation of RTVE and Movistar Plus+. Shooting locations included Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Madrid and the Cosón Beach near Samaná.

Release
The film received a pre-screening at Cines Kinépolis of Paterna on 25 September 2023. It was also scheduled to screen at the Teatro Victoria Eugenia during a RTVE gala of the 71st San Sebastián International Film Festival on 28 September 2023. Distributed by Universal Pictures International Spain, it was released theatrically in Spain on 29 September 2023.

Reception
Enid Román Almansa of Cinemanía rated the film 4½ out of 5 stars, assessing that the film is as eccentric and crazy as it is fun.

Accolades

 * rowspan = "2" | 2024 || 38th Goya Awards || Best Makeup and Hairstyles || Eli Adánez, Juan Begara || Nominated ||
 * 32nd Actors and Actresses Union Awards || Best Film Actress in a Secondary Role || Alexandra Jiménez || Nominated ||
 * }
 * 32nd Actors and Actresses Union Awards || Best Film Actress in a Secondary Role || Alexandra Jiménez || Nominated ||
 * }