Mamacruz

Mamacruz is a 2023 Spanish-Venezuelan comedy-drama film directed by Patricia Ortega and written by Ortega and José Ortuño. It stars Kiti Mánver.

Plot
The plot concerns about the rediscovery of an old woman's long-forgotten sexuality and desire.

Production
Initially developed by Ortega in her native Venezuela, the project did not manage to persuade potential co-producers to work in the country. Upon a meeting of Ortega with Olmo Figueredo at 2019 Rome's MIA Market, the project eventually moved across the Atlantic to Spain. The screenplay was penned by Ortega alongside José Ortuño, who helped to adapt the script to a "Sevillian idiosyncrasy".

A Spanish-Venezuelan co-production, the film was produced by La Claqueta PC, Mamacruz AIE, and Pecado Films alongside Mandrágora Films, with the participation of Canal Sur Radio y Televisión, support from ICAA, and help from Agencia Andaluza de Instituciones Culturales. Shooting locations included Seville.

Release
Selected for the 'World Cinema Dramatic Competition' slate, Mamacruz premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival on 20 January 2023. Filmax swooped on international rights to the film in advance of its world premiere. It also made it to an out-of-competition slot of the official selection of the 68th Valladolid International Film Festival for its European premiere. It opened in Spanish theatres on 27 October 2023.

Reception
According to the American review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, Mamacruz has a 100% approval rating based on 19 reviews from critics, with an average rating of 7.9/10.

Jonathan Holland of ScreenDaily assessed that "the veteran Manver delivers a masterclass in nuance as a quietly-spoken, humble and repressed woman undergoing a violent inner transformation".

Jacob Oller of Paste deemed Mamacruz to be "a vibrant and lovely character study", that "makes the most of its horny matriarch".

Laurence Boyce of Cineuropa deemed the film to be a "personal and affecting piece of work that is both an achingly human portrait of a woman exploring her desires in her later years and a celebration of female sexuality".

Accolades

 * rowspan = "14" | 2024 || rowspan = "2" | 11th Feroz Awards || colspan = "2" | Best Comedy Film || Nominated || rowspan = "2" |
 * Best Actress in a Film || Kiti Mánver || Nominated
 * rowspan = "11" | 3rd Carmen Awards || colspan = "2" | Best Film || Nominated || rowspan = "11" |
 * Best Director || Patricia Ortega || Won
 * Best Original Screenplay || Patricia Ortega, José Ortuño || Nominated
 * Best Actress || Kiti Mánver || Won
 * Best Supporting Actress || Mari Paz Sayago || Won
 * Best New Actress || Mercedes Moral || Nominated
 * Best Cinematography || Fran Fernández Pardo || Nominated
 * Best Editing || Fátima de los Santos || Won
 * Best Production Supervision || Manolo Limón || Nominated
 * Best Costume Design || Esther Vaquero || Nominated
 * Best Makeup and Hairstyles || Anabel Beato, Carmela Martín || Nominated
 * 38th Goya Awards || Best Editing || Fátima de los Santos || Nominated ||
 * }
 * Best New Actress || Mercedes Moral || Nominated
 * Best Cinematography || Fran Fernández Pardo || Nominated
 * Best Editing || Fátima de los Santos || Won
 * Best Production Supervision || Manolo Limón || Nominated
 * Best Costume Design || Esther Vaquero || Nominated
 * Best Makeup and Hairstyles || Anabel Beato, Carmela Martín || Nominated
 * 38th Goya Awards || Best Editing || Fátima de los Santos || Nominated ||
 * }
 * Best Costume Design || Esther Vaquero || Nominated
 * Best Makeup and Hairstyles || Anabel Beato, Carmela Martín || Nominated
 * 38th Goya Awards || Best Editing || Fátima de los Santos || Nominated ||
 * }
 * 38th Goya Awards || Best Editing || Fátima de los Santos || Nominated ||
 * }