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Charm School (2007)

Name: Charm School
Genre: Comedy
Released: 2007-03-09
Duration: 102 min
Rating: 7
Cast: Martha Higareda, Blanca Guerra, Camila Sodi, María Aura, Alejandra Adame

Charm School (2007), directed by Fernando Sariñana, starring Martha Higareda and Blanca Guerra.

03/09/2007 BR Comedy 1h 42m

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Good girls go to heaven. Bad girls go wherever they want.

Synopsis

Defiant 18-year-old Adela León pushes her father and an unbending headmistress to the limit in this delicious comedy.

Fernando SariñanaDirector, Producer
Óscar FigueroaEditing
Ignacio DarnaudeStory
Issa LópezScreenplay, Story

About the film

Charm School (Spanish: Niñas mal; also titled Bad Girls) is a 2007 Mexican coming-of-age teen comedy film directed by Fernando Sariñana. It stars Martha Higareda as Adela, a rebellious teenager who is sent to a strict finishing school run by Maca (Blanca Guerra), where she undergoes personal growth.

The film was released theatrically in Mexico on 9 March 2007 by Sony Pictures Releasing International. It received mixed reviews but was a commercial success, grossing over $7.2 million worldwide. Niñas mal was adapted into a telenovela of the same name, produced by Sony Pictures Television and broadcast by MTV. In 2025, a spin-off of the telenovela, also produced by Sony, was announced.

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Plot

Adela is a rebellious young woman whose behavior causes tension with her father, who is a politician and single. One day, she accidentally sets a theater stage on fire during a performance, leading to her arrest and threatening her father's public image. To curb her behavior, her father confines her and requires her to attend Doña Macarena "Maca" Ribera's finishing school, promising to finance Adela's long-desired acting studies in London if she complies.

At the school, Adela meets several students, including Maribel, who struggles with clumsiness; Valentina, a musically talented student sent there following conflicts with her family for being a lesbian; Heidi, who is engaged to the son of a wealthy man and attends to learn proper etiquette; and Pia, an intelligent but socially reserved student who has difficulty forming romantic relationships. The girls receive instruction in domestic and social skills under Maca's strict guidance.

During her time at the school, Adela forms friendships with the girls and staff and begins a romantic relationship with Emiliano, a maintenance worker. Although initially resistant, she gradually becomes more cooperative and develops a mutual understanding with Maca.

Meanwhile, Adela's father faces mounting political pressure, culminating in a high-profile dinner intended to present Adela as well-mannered. During the event, Adela publicly reveals family secrets and misunderstandings, challenging the expectations of the adults involved. After completing the course, the students pursue different paths: Heidi reconciles with her fiancé, Maribel opens her own finishing school, Valentina continues her music career alongside her girlfriend, and Pia enters a romantic relationship. Adela departs for London to study acting, while Maca closes the school to begin a television career.

Cast

Martha Higareda as Adela León

Blanca Guerra as Macarena "Maca" Ribera

Camila Sodi as Pía

Cecilia Ludmila Ponce as Heidi

Ximena Sariñana as Valentina

María Aura as Maribel

Alejandra Adame as Heidi

Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez as Fina

Salvador Sánchez as Monseñor

Rafael Sánchez Navarro as Martín León

References

External links

Charm School at IMDb

Charm School at the TCM Movie Database (archived)

Text from Charm School (film) on Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charm_School_(film)

Trivia

It premiered on March 9, 2007, a Friday.
It runs 1h42 — a typical feature length.
Its original title is "Niñas Mal".
As of September 20, 2026, it is available in Brazil by subscription on Sony One Amazon Channel.
This film's quiz has 12 questions — enough to play more than once without repeats.

Production

StudiosColumbia Pictures Producciones Mexico
CountriesMexico
LanguagesSpanish
StatusReleased

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Crew

Fernando Sariñana Director
Óscar Figueroa Editing
Fernando Sariñana Producer
Ignacio Darnaude Story
Issa López Screenplay
Issa López Story
Jose Balido Story

Questions about this film

What is Charm School about?

Charm School: Defiant 18-year-old Adela León pushes her father and an unbending headmistress to the limit in this delicious comedy.

Who directed Charm School?

Charm School was directed by Fernando Sariñana in 2007.

Who stars in Charm School?

The cast of Charm School includes Martha Higareda, Blanca Guerra, Camila Sodi, María Aura and Alejandra Adame.

How long is Charm School?

Charm School runs for 102 minutes, or 1h42.

Where can I watch Charm School?

Charm School is available on Sony One Amazon Channel, Claro video and Amazon Video. Availability changes often: the list on this page is the most recent we received.