Palace of Stylists arrives in Alicante after a warm reception in Madrid and Elche, bringing a bright, stylish comedy to the screen. The project is presented in collaboration with the Alicante Film Festival and is set to run through the week at Kinepolis cinemas in Alicante. The screening this Friday at 19.00 will include remarks from the film crew, with the director and several cast members including Alicante actor Alex Peral, known for When the night doesn’t end, and Julia Fernandez. An audience Q&A will follow the screening, and the film will be showcased for the entire week.
Before the Alicante premiere, the director and principal cast introduced the comedy alongside the festival director Vincent Seva. Seva described the feature as a comedy that captures life itself and highlighted the remarkable cast assembled for a debut project. The film marks the first feature for a team of notable actors, and the crew emphasizes that Moisés Martín has pulled off this unusual artistic feat with confidence.
The Malaga-based director brings together eleven accomplished performers such as Goya Toledo, Pastora Vega, Carlos Hipólito, Ramiro Blas, and Lolita Flores among others. Palace of Stylists follows Juana, a hairdresser in her forties who grows weary of her routine. By chance she uncovers wrongdoing among some clients and chooses to leverage what she learns. Juana devises schemes to dodge trouble at a wedding and to outwit the groom. As she uncovers a broader conspiracy, she enlists a beautician and a fortune teller to help. Complications mount when a gun-licensed schizophrenic enters the picture.
Route’s Alex Peral to share film with Goya Toledo
The Alicante premiere includes a notable collaboration with Goya Toledo, who leads the cast alongside a robust ensemble. The film highlights the power of local and international talent coming together to build a lively theatrical experience for audiences in Alicante and beyond. The collaboration is framed as a celebration of strong storytelling and bold character work.
What is talked about in hair salons?
Director Moisés Martín shares that hairdressers in the neighborhood and the kitchen at home with the women of his family formed the seed of the film and his cinematic universe. The setting where women organize their lives became the heartbeat of the project, especially as the story unfolds through a lively, vaudeville-inspired tone that keeps cinema energy high and audiences buoyed by goodwill. Yet the director notes deeper themes at play, including toxic family dynamics and the evolving relationship between mothers and daughters. He emphasizes that family remains a rich, inexhaustible source of stories and gossip.
Martín draws inspiration from a blend of influences, including the visual exuberance of Pedro Almodóvar and the offbeat humor of Jim Jarmusch, John Waters, Douglas Sirk, and Billy Wilder. He expresses a nostalgia for the vivid color world of classic cinema and a desire to recapture the Technicolor feel and childhood movie magic that shaped his artistic sensibility.
Speaking about how he attracted such a strong lineup, the Malaga-based filmmaker notes that although the concept surprised many, his established world and clear vision helped win actors who believed in the project and wanted to contribute.
An Alicante in the cast
The casting included Alex Peral Martín, who was identified early on as a natural fit. He joined with a sense of certainty, and his familiarity with martial arts aligned with his character. The actor reflects on his role as a gift, portraying Lucas, a young man who evolves as the story unfolds. Lucas is a dreamer facing a choice between staying true to his essence or pursuing stability and marriage while continuing his action-oriented ambitions.
Peral describes the character as a 23-year-old who embodies creative freedom. The director entrusted him with a role described as among the most developed in the film, allowing his performance to reach new heights. This marks Peral’s feature film debut in a project that also marks Moisés Martín’s first independently produced feature.
The narrative centers on a filmmaker who uses a salon setting and social situations to examine societal structures. The cast includes Julia Fernandez as Alba, the hair salon owner’s friend who is impulsive and fun-loving, helping Juana while navigating a complicated love triangle. The director notes the importance of authentic casting, highlighting that a cis actor plays a trans character in a responsible, respectful way, underscoring the need for inclusive storytelling across all roles.