A sensuous exploration of 1950s Hollywood through the eyes of a budding Mexican starlet and a jealous, struggling actress.
21-year-old Vera Larios, who was never meant to be the actress in her family, catches the eye of a director and lands the lead role in the “sword-and-sandal” epic, Salome. Her sudden rise to fame, fueled by her ingenuity, curiosity, and distinctive ethnicity, incites the ire of Nancy Hartley, a failed actress convinced that Vera has usurped the stardom she deserves.
Nancy, whose career has stalled, schemes to reclaim her rightful place in the limelight. The situation escalates when a wealthy jazz pianist, whom Nancy has been vying for, turns his attention to Vera.
As Vera battles the oppressive forces of Hollywood’s ‘Golden Age’—from an overbearing mother to racism, misogyny, and predatory advances—Nancy grapples with her crumbling career, financial woes, and the cold indifference of those around her.
Moreno-Garcia’s narrative deftly shifts between the perspectives of Vera, Nancy, and even the film’s Salome, weaving a shrewd, spellbinding tale that builds to an explosive crescendo as the two actresses’ lives collide.
With this latest, Silvia Moreno-Garcia once again proves her extraordinary prowess as a versatile storyteller and gifted prosaic writer. Her talent for crafting vivid, immersive worlds, building relentless suspense, and creating compelling characters is unparalleled.
Evocative, explosive, and darkly thrilling—THE SEVENTH VEIL OF SALOME is one of the year’s best.