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Cult Review
Senior Film Conservator
Look, if you have zero patience for films where people mostly just sit around and talk, skip this. It’s not exactly The Hound of the Baskervilles when it comes to thrills. But if you dig that old-world charm where the drama lives in a glance or a stiff shoulder? You’ll probably enjoy it.
People who want fast cuts and snappy dialogue are going to hate this. It’s definitely not for them. ☕
It’s funny, I found myself watching the background more than the actual actors sometimes. There’s this one scene where a curtain just won't stop moving in the breeze. It’s super distracting, but honestly? It kind of adds to the whole stuffy house atmosphere. Maybe it was on purpose. Maybe it was just a drafty set.
The acting is very… of its time. You know that style where everything feels just a little bit theatrical? It’s not bad, just different from what we see now. There’s this moment where Catalina Bárcena does this tiny tilt of her head that basically carries the whole scene. No dialogue, just that tilt. You can really feel the weight of the family secrets hanging in the air.
It reminds me a little bit of the feeling I got watching Charming Sinners. That same sense of people trapped in their own social bubbles. It feels like they’re all wearing masks, even when they’re alone.
Sometimes the movie tries way too hard to make you feel bad for these characters. Like, we get it, you’re sad! But then there’s a quiet moment—maybe someone pouring tea or adjusting a lamp—and it works. The simplicity is the best part, even when the writing gets a bit flowery.
It’s not a masterpiece, and it doesn't try to be. It’s just a movie about a mother and her people, doing the best they can. 🎞️