The Maid (La Nana): Not rated: adult situations and language, nudity; 1:34

$ $ $ $ $ (out of $5)

By John M. Urbancich, Sun News

February 04, 2010, 3:09PM

“The Maid” is a little Chilean gem, and that’s said as much about the sad-eyed actress who portrays the title character as the film she walks away with. (Think silent-screen legend Buster Keaton wearing a women’s wig.)

Her name is Catalina Saavedra, and she plays Raquel, now in her 23rd year of living with and serving a comfortable family in Santiago. Her story begins and ends with birthday celebrations in this terrific what-goes-around-comes-around film of class values and relationships.

What’s important to Raquel often becomes taken for granted by members of the Valdez clan, whose members include the maid’s favorite, eldest son Lucas, and her arch-enemy, spirited teen Camila.

Certainly, taking care of the family is never easy, and Raquel’s recurring headaches and fainting spells are proof enough — to the mostly caring Mrs. Valdez, at least — that more domestic help is needed.

Raquel naturally resents any interference with running her household. Thus, she cruelly, though sometimes humorously, torments each of her new co-workers. Still, whenever you might think that “The Maid” is on the verge of becoming a brutal psychodrama, director/co-writer Sebastian Silva easily turns his complex human themes into many moments of rewarding viewing.

Read more by John M. Urbancich at http://jmuvies.blogspot.com/