LA ÚLTIMA VEDETTE

THE LAST SHOWGIRL

By Edwin OYARCE

CREAS-FILMS - as PROD

Documentary - Production 2015

Maggie Lay is an old Chilean showgirl, who currently earns a living by driving a taxicab, but has refused to abandon the stage until today. At 65 her body has begun to deteriorate and for the first time she’s thinking about retirement.

Festivals
& Awards

Santiago Festival Internacional de Cine (SANFIC9) 2013
Santiago Lab / Mejor Picht Documental
Surdocs (Festival Internacional de Documentales de Sur) 2013
Taller de Industria
DocsBarcelona 2014
Pitch Forum
    • Year of production
    • 2015
    • Genres
    • Documentary
    • Countries
    • CHILE
    • Languages
    • SPANISH, ENGLISH
    • Budget
    • 50 - + M$
    • Duration
    • 71 mn
    • Director(s)
    • Edwin OYARCE
    • Writer(s)
    • Edwin OYARCE
    • Producer(s)
    • Adriana SILVA
    • Synopsis
    • From within the ungrateful artistic milieu, Magdalena Hay Sang Lay, better known as, Maggie Lay, remains as the last surviving showgirl of the revue; performance art as a type of show, art linked to sensuality and exuberant women, glamour and humor, that went from glory days to oblivion in Chile under the dictatorship. Through a journey that begins on the taxicab she drives regularly to earn a living, her singular life as an artist slowly unfolds. Bordering 65 years old, she has kept in shape the body that made her famous and lead figure of the “Bim Bam Bum” in the 70’s, when the Santiago bohemia was in decline.
      Monday through Friday Maggie wakes up early to go to work as a taxicab driver on the outskirts of Santiago, but every weekend she wears her feathers and shines again on small stages, trying to relive her golden era. Today at 65 she faces a new reality, her body is decaying and performing is more difficult each time, not being able to keep up with extensive performances and rehearsals, for the first time she thinks about retirement. When that happens, the last traces of the bohemian Santiago era will disappear forever. Today the public seems to be rediscovering this legendary showgirl that keeps her famous shape and vitality intact, with more bookings than ever, stage-acting projects and the dream of one last revue show before she retires.
    • Beginning of shooting
    • Mar 16, 2015
    • End of shooting
    • Feb 02, 2016