Siempre soy tu animal materno (Forever Your Maternal Animal)

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.