Matria
(Matria)
Álvaro Gago | Drama, Fiction
2017 | 21 minutes | Spain
Faced with the challenges of her daily routine, Ramona begins to see the glimmer of a new possibility – the chance to live for herself, for once.
Synopsis
In a bustling Galician fishing village, Ramona's life is a relentless cycle of sacrifice for her daughter's future. Struggling with a distant husband and a tyrannical manager at the cannery where she works, Ramona finds solace only in her bond with her daughter and granddaughter.
But when she loses her job, Ramona is thrust into a desperate search for employment, realizing the harsh reality of her existence in a system that undervalues her worth. Juggling multiple jobs, including leading a colorful crew of working class women, Ramona grapples with financial strain and the advances of a younger co-worker. As pressure mounts, she is forced to confront the limitations of her life. Yet amidst the chaos, she begins to recognize the glimmer of a new possibility – the chance to live for herself, even if just for once.
With powerful performances, Álvaro Gago's emotionally absorbing debut captures the resilience of a woman pushed to her limits, finding the strength to rewrite her own story.
Reviews
"An intense film, a critical reflection of patriarchal society and, above all, an outcry." - Luis Martínez, El Mundo
"Anguish is transmitted throughout the entire film: the disenchantment with work, suppressed rage that suffocates and qualifies you as "difficult," familial, and personal drama. It's spectacular." - Jose D. Diaz, Escribiendo Cine
"Anyone looking for a plucky, against-the odds storyline told through the eyes of a victim of injustice has come to the wrong place. One of the key virtues of Matria is that Ramona is fallible and self-destructive." - Jonathan Holland, Screen International
"There were a few movies at this year’s Berlinale about middle-aged women figuring out who they are separate to their familial responsibilities, of which “Matria” was both the angriest and the most fun. ...This scrappy little movie is a joy." - Sarah Manvel, Critic's Notebook
Citation
Main credits
Gago, Álvaro (film director)
Gago, Álvaro (screenwriter)
Gago, Álvaro (film producer)
Gago Rodríguez, José (film producer)
Gago Rodríguez, Alberto (film producer)
Iglesias Bouzón, Francisca (actor)
Fragua Agra, Pilar (actor)
Chaves Ferro, Eulogia (actor)
Other credits
Cinematography, Lucía C. Pan; editing, Álvaro Gago.
Citation
Cataloging
Pragda subjects
Economics + Social Class Issues
Family
Health + Aging
Iberian Studies
Labor Studies
Short Films
Sociology
Women
Keywords
Clips
Festivals
Sundance Film Festival - Grand Jury Prize for Short Film; Palm Springs International ShortFest; AFI FEST; SEMINCI Valladolid International Film Festival - Best National Short Film; Alcalá de Henares Film Festival ALCINE - Best National Film, Best Actress; IndieLisboa International Independent Film Festival - Best Fiction Short Film; HollyShorts Film Festival - Best International Short Film; Concorto Film Festival - Special Jury Mention
DIRECTOR: Álvaro Gago
NATIONALITY: Spain
YEAR: 2017
GENRE: Drama, Fiction
LANGUAGE: Galician; Other languages
COLOR / B&W: Color
GRADE LEVEL: High School, College, Adult
SUBTITLE/CC: AVAILABLE
AUDIO DESCRIPTION: NOT AVAILABLE
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