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Valentina Maurel
Siempre soy tu animal materno (Forever Your Maternal Animal)
Director
Valentina Maurel
Cast
Reinaldo Amien Gutiérrez, Mercedes Gazel, Marina de Tavira
Edition 2026
100'
-
2026
-
Drama
-
Format:
DCP
-
Dialogue:
Dutch, Spanish
In her sophomore film Costa Rican director Valentina Maurel paints a vivid portrait of an eccentric family and their profusion of uncertain desires, ambiguous intentions and an overarching need for change. Here, reaching adulthood does not mark the end of the process of growing up, but rather its messy and equally painful and fascinating continuation.
Back in Costa Rica (temporarily), Elsa (Daniela Marín) finds herself caught up in the family dynamics she had left behind. Whilst her mother is reclaiming time for herself now that her daughters have grown up, her father is seeking to reinvent himself through a new romance. Elsa’s sister Amalia seeks stability in uncertain circumstances and hopes that her sister’s return will herald better times. Elsa takes on the responsibility, but is searching for her own path. In Valentina Maurel’s work, mothers, fathers, daughters and sisters are never reduced to merely those roles. They are rebels, poets, lovers, travellers… In her debut film (with an equally delightful poetic title), Tengo sueños eléctricos (I Have Electric Dreams) (2022), Maurel already explored the complexity of family ties. Her second film remains true to that spirit and won an award for best acting at Cannes.
FFG Talkies; Siempre soy tu animal materno
On 10 October, Costa Rican filmmaker Valentina Maurel will be talking about her film during the FFG Talkies at the Film Fest Café at 12.30.
Cinema & Apero
Image gallery
Credits
Directors
Valentina Maurel
Cast
Reinaldo Amien Gutiérrez, Mercedes Gazel, Marina de Tavira
Scenario
Valentina Maurel
Director of Photography
Nicolás Wong
Editors
Bertrand Conard
Producers
Grégoire Debailly, Benoît Roland, Nicolás Celis
Production studios
Wrong Men
Distributor
Cinéart
More info
Dialogue
Dutch, Spanish
Countries of production
Costa Rica, Belgium
Year
2026
Filmography
Valentina Maurel
Les prénoms (short, 2013), Perfect Hotel (short, 2015), Paul is here (short, 2016), Tengo sueños eléctricos (2022), Forever Your Maternal Animal (2026)
Technical Specs
Format
DCP
