in filming
First film by Álvaro Gago, narrates the life of a worker in the Galician canning industry, played by María Vázquez
Already in post-production is ‘Matria’, Álvaro Gago’s debut film that narrates the life of a worker in the Galician canning industry, played by María Vázquez (seen in ‘Who kills iron’ and ‘Cuñados’). The film, shot last quarter, is part of the short film of the same name by the director himself, the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, which is inspired by a true story, which Álvaro Gago, who also signs the script, knows very well, with which he wants break the myth of the «Galician matriarchy».
The film takes place in a coastal town in Galicia. There, Ramona (María Vázquez) works in a frozen seafood factory and occasionally unloads mussels at the port, in order to increase her tight salary. She lives with her boyfriend, who works at sea and drinks at the bar, and has a 21-year-old daughter from a previous marriage, with whom she frequently clashes. Faced with this situation and the challenges posed by this meaningless daily routine, Ramona tries to take refuge in the relationship she maintains with her daughter and her granddaughter. Ramona’s routine is interrupted when the factory management reports that she has reduced their wages: she rebels and is fired from her. She immediately starts working at the house of a man of few words, who often puts her down. But her attitude changes when Ramona helps her pass her driver’s license renewal tests. Her relationship grows and she manages to find a small oasis in that home.
Álvaro Gago explains: «The film is inspired by the life of Francisca Iglesias, who worked in my grandfather’s house and with whom I have a close friendship. It was her personal story that pushed me to start writing. We have already documented her daily struggle in my penultimate short film, where Francisca played the main role; but the duration of the format forced us to focus on two aspects of her life, leaving aside a rich and complex universe, which I continue to delve into in my first feature ».
The filmmaker reveals: «It is the life of Ramona, a working woman who initiates «a personal revolution. I want to dismantle this idea that a working woman who can do anything, who carries the family on her back and who is sometimes associated with a powerful woman both politically and socially and in the family, when she is not. I see it as a revolution very attached to the earth and with a lot of stomach, very visceral».
Álvaro Gago, who studied communication and music in Galicia, theater in Chicago and cinema in London, adds: «On a narrative level, there is therefore a progressive increase in the time dedicated to exploring the inner life of the protagonist. At an interpretive level, the performance goes from being based on impulsiveness to incorporating reflection. And on a visual level, with a frame that keeps the central role compressed at the beginning and opens up as the story progresses» commented the filmmaker. «We have worked with an artistic team that mixes inexperienced actors with professionals who mimic the way of speaking, moving and understanding life in the region where the film takes place. Because the intonation, the musicality of the words and the body language are as important as the interpretive technique».
With the short ‘Matria’ (2017), Álvaro Gago was nominated for a Goya, and in addition to Sundance he won more than 70 awards. He later staged ‘Trote’, Xacio Baño’s debut feature. His next short film, ’16 de decembro’, premiered at the 2019 Locarno Festival. When the feature film ‘Matria’ was just a project, it was selected at the Berlinale Coproduction Market and the Mediterranean Film Institute.
The feature film has been shot in Vilanova de Arousa (Pontevedra). It is a film by Matriuska Producciones, Avalon PC and Ringo Media, which has had the support of ICAA, AGADIC, TVG, Pontevedra Provincial Council and La Incubadora. Its premiere is scheduled for the end of 2022, distributed by Avalon.