Writer-director Marlene Emilia Rios keeps things intimate and immediate in Lucia & Nicole, a short drama that zeroes in on how one unexpected encounter can flip an ordinary day into a moral crossroads. With its focus on small gestures and real-world limits, the film sets up a situation that feels uncomfortable—because it is.
Lucia (Romance Suarez) is out on a hot afternoon shopping excursion with her mother, Ximena (Lissette Nichols). While heading home, Lucia spots her old-school friend, Nicole (Claudia Levis), selling flowers on the street. Concerned for her well-being, Ximena invites Nicole over for dinner.
Nicole (Claudia Levis) sits alone, lost in thought, in Lucia & Nicole (2026).
“Nicole confesses she is homeless because her mother kicked her out after discovering she is a lesbian.”
Nicole confesses she is homeless because her mother kicked her out after discovering she is a lesbian. With all the best intentions, Lucia asks her mom if Nicole can stay with them, but finances are tight, and it’s simply impossible to make it happen.
Lucia & Nicole asks a lot of questions—mostly about charity and helping those in need. The most important question is what you would do in this situation where compassion and practicality are at odds. Deep down, we want to help. Is this a simple question—one that Lucia & Nicole grabs by the heart—and keeps us engaged?
Simple and straightforward, Marlene Emilia Rios’ Lucia & Nicole does everything it needs to do to tell a solid story and linger in your mind long after it’s over.
"…a situation that feels uncomfortable—because it is."
