Matria

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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.

"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

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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.

Keywords

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