SILVER

Ramona's life in a Galician fishing village is a constant hustle. She works two jobs to provide for her estranged 18-year-old daughter while living with her not-quite-alcoholic boyfriend. When the industrial cleaning company where she works reduces her wages, Ramona quits and searches for a new job — and something new to live for. Director Álvaro Gago expands his 2017 short film MATRIA, to bring to the screen a taut drama about a self-destructive woman's attempt to reshape her life. It's anchored by a fierce, affecting lead performance from María Vázquez, who channels equal parts vulnerability, strength and a wickedly foul sense of humor. Impressive camera work by cinematographer Lucía C. Pan heightens the emotions by getting as close as possible to Ramona and never letting her out of sight. Shot in the Rías Baixas, a region in northwestern Spain, and entirely in the endangered Galician language, MATRIA is a raw and authentic feature debut from a promising new voice in Spanish cinema. Official Selection, 2023 Berlin and Seattle film festivals. DIR/SCR Álvaro Gago; PROD Daniel Froiz, María Zamora, Stefan Schmitz, Mireia Graell Vivancos. Spain, 2023, color, 99 min. In Galician with English subtitles. NOT RATED

No AFI Member passes accepted.