Matria

2023 Spanish film

Matria

Theatrical release poster

Directed by| Álvaro Gago
Screenplay by| Álvaro Gago
Produced by|

* Daniel Froiz
* María Zamora
* Stefan Schmitz
* Mireia Graell Vivancos

Starring|

* María Vázquez
* Soraya Luaces
* E.R. Cunha "Tatán"
* Susana Sampedro
* Santi Prego

Cinematography| Lucía C. Pan
Edited by| Ricardo Saraiva
Music by|

* Patricia Cadaveira
* Marcel Pascual

Production
companies

* Matriuska Producciones
* Avalon PC
* Elastica Films
* Ringo Media

Distributed by| Avalon

Release dates

* 17 February 2023 (2023-02-17) (Berlinale)
* 24 March 2023 (2023-03-24) (Spain)

Country| Spain
Language| Galician

Matria is a 2023 Spanish social drama film directed by Álvaro Gago (in his feature debut) which stars María Vázquez. It is shot in Galician.

## Plot

[edit]

Set in a Galician fishing village, the plot follows the plight of Ramona, a financially-insecure working woman struggling to stay afloat.[1]

## Cast

[edit]

* María Vázquez as Ramona[2]
* Santi Prego [es] as Andrés[2]
* Soraya Luaces as Estrella[2]
* E.R. Cunha "Tatán" as Xosé[2]
* Susana Sampedro as Carme[2]

## Production

[edit]

The story is freely based on the life of Francisca Iglesias, a woman who took care of Gago's grandfather, and who starred in Gago's short film of the same name.[3] María Vázquez took over the protagonist role (Ramona) for the feature film, playing a younger version of the character.[3] Iglesias plays a minor role in the film.[3] The film was produced by Pontevedra's Matriuska Producciones, Madrid's Avalon PC, Valencia's Elastica Films, and Barcelona's Ringo Media.[2] Fully shot in Galician, María Vázquez (raised in the province of Lugo) faced the challenge of adapting her Galician to the variety from the Rías Baixas.[3]

## Release

[edit]

The film made its world premiere on 17 February 2023 at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival, screened in the festival's Panorama lineup. Prior to its domestic theatrical release, it was presented at the 26th Málaga Film Festival on 11 March 2023.[4] It was released theatrically in Spain on 24 March 2023 by Avalon.[5][6]

## Reception

[edit]

Jonathan Holland of ScreenDaily, warning that "anyone looking for a plucky, against-the odds storyline told through the eyes of a victim of injustice has come to the wrong place", highlighted one of the film's key virtues being that [the protagonist] "is fallible and self-destructive".[7]

Marta Bałaga of Cineuropa deemed the film to be "a welcome take on social cinema", otherwise featuring a protagonist [Ramona] that "feels real and fun to follow, even though one can run out of breath".[1]

Andrea G. Bermejo of Cinemanía rated the film 3½ out of 5 stars, considering that Vázquez nails each the nuances of her character.[5]

## Accolades

[edit]

Year  | Award  | Category | Nominee(s)  | Result | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|

2023

| 26th Málaga Film Festival | Silver Biznaga for Best Actress | María Vázquez | Won |

[8]

49th Seattle International Film Festival | Ibero-American Competition Special Jury Prize - Actress | Won |

[9]

29th Forqué Awards | Best Actress in a Film | Nominated |

[10]

2024

| 11th Feroz Awards | Best Actress in a Film | Nominated |

[11]

38th Goya Awards | Best Actress | Nominated | [12]
Best New Director | Álvaro Gago | Nominated
22nd Mestre Mateo Awards | Best Film | Nominated | [13][14]
Best Director | Álvaro Gago | Nominated
Best Screenplay | Álvaro Gago | Nominated
Best Actress | María Vázquez | Won
Best Supporting Actress | Susana Sampedro | Won
Best Supporting Actor | Eduardo Alberto Rodríguez Cunha 'Tatán' | Nominated
Santi Prego | Won
Best Cinematography | Lucía C. Pan | Won
Best Editing | Ricardo Saraiva | Nominated
Best Production Supervision | Nati Juncal | Won
Best Sound | Xavier Souto, Diego Staub | Nominated
Best Makeup and Hairstyles | Sonia García | Nominated

## See also

[edit]

* List of Spanish films of 2023

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Bałaga, Marta (17 February 2023). "Review: Matria". Cineuropa.
2. ^ a b c d e f "Matria". Berlinale. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
3. ^ a b c d Meseguer, Astrid (17 February 2023). "La extraordinaria María Vázquez emociona en la Berlinale con el drama social 'Matria'". La Vanguardia.
4. ^ "'Matria', un homenaje a las mujeres que sostienen el país en la sombra". Málaga Hoy. Grupo Joly. 11 March 2023.
5. ^ a b Bermejo, Andrea G. (22 March 2023). "Crítica de 'Matria'". Cinemanía - via 20minutos.es.
6. ^ Quintás, Paula (4 March 2023). "Vídeo: Así es el tráiler de 'Matria', la película gallega estrenada en la Berlinale". Quincemil - via El Español.
7. ^ Holland, Jonathan (17 February 2023). "'Matria': Berlin Review". ScreenDaily.
8. ^ Meza, Ed (18 March 2023). "Spain's '20,000 Species of Bees,' Panamanian Drama 'Sister & Sister' Win Malaga Film Festival's Golden Biznagas". Variety.
9. ^ "Seattle International Film Festival 2023 Award Winners". SIFF. May 21, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
10. ^ "'La Mesías' y 'Cerrar los ojos' lideran las nominaciones de los Premios Forqué 2023". Cinemanía. 7 November 2023 - via 20minutos.es.
11. ^ "'Cerrar los ojos', '20.000 especies de abejas' y 'Un amor' encabezan las nominaciones a los Premios Feroz". rtve.es. 23 November 2023.
12. ^ Hopewell, John (11 February 2024). "Spain's Goya Awards: J.A. Bayona's 'Society of the Snow' Wins Best Picture, Director as Sigourney Weaver Receives an International Goya". Variety.
13. ^ "'Rapa', 'O corno' y 'Matria' lideran las nominaciones de los Mestre Mateo". Quincemil. 7 February 2024 - via El Español.
14. ^ "Los Mestre Mateo ensalzan el talento femenino en el audiovisual". El Ideal Gallego. 24 March 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Matria at IMDb

*[Ref.]: Reference