Motherhood

Carla is fourteen. She lives on the edge of a town in a small restaurant with her young mother. She does not go to school, hangs about outside and nobody looks after her. When a social worker takes an interest something comes out: Carla is five months pregnant. She is placed in a centre for young mothers. There she lives with girls like herself; all of them have babies or will, and none of them is prepared. Pilar Palomero writes and directs. Carla Quílez plays Carla. Most of the cast are not professionals. Some of the young women in the centre are played by people who have really been through something similar, and the narrative is built on that naturalness. The film gives no lesson. How the pregnancy happened, who is responsible and what ought to be done are not argued; the film only shows what happens afterwards. The mother is its second subject. Carla's mother also gave birth very young and the relationship between them resembles that of sisters; the film builds that circle quietly. Carla Quílez's performance was praised and she was named best new actress at the Spanish film awards. The visual language is plain; handheld camera, natural light and scenes without music. Who it is for: viewers who like Spanish social realism and drama told through young characters. Who it is not for: the subject is heavy, the narrative offers no resolution, and the pace is slow.