THE AVON LADY ｜ Omeleto

A woman struggles with a job. Rosa is a 65-year-old Chilean immigrant who decides to become an Avon Lady, in part to practice her English and earn some extra money. But she's having a hard time getting into the swing of things, struggling with her pronunciation, her spiel and her confidence. But then she meets a friendly eccentric neighbor, Matty, who is not only patient with Rosa but helps her with her presentation. Under Matty's tutelage, she blooms into the confident, joyful saleswoman she longs to be. Directed and written by Carolina Espiro, this colorful, delightful short comedy chronicles the travails and triumphs of a senior immigrant woman embarking on a new challenge, as she ventures forth into the wider world to become an Avon Lady. Iconic in the 1980s as a symbol of feminine independence, Avon Ladies sold not just makeup but glamour and empowerment to their customers. But Rosa's need to get her English up to speed hampers her aspirations until she meets a friendly, cheerfully vivacious neighbor who teaches her the secret of success. Shot with cheerful, stylized cinematography and an effervescent pace, the winsome storytelling begins bright and broad, full of good-spirited silliness. It has fun with Rosa's initial fumbles as she goes door-to-door, meeting with everything from skepticism to hostile dogs along the way. But even as it entertains with Rosa's hapless misadventures, it establishes how she's having a hard time, and each mini-failure chips away at her optimism and confidence.