Matria

Matria is a 2023 Spanish social drama film directed by Álvaro Gago (in his feature debut) which stars María Vázquez. It is shot in Galician.

Plot
Set in a Galician fishing village, the plot follows the plight of Ramona, a financially-insecure working woman struggling to stay afloat.

Production
The story is freely based on the life of Francisca Iglesias, a woman who took care of Gago's grandfather, and who starred in Gago's short film of the same name. María Vázquez took over the protagonist role (Ramona) for the feature film, playing a younger version of the character. Iglesias plays a minor role in the film. The film was produced by Pontevedra's Matriuska Producciones, Madrid's Avalon PC, Valencia's Elastica Films, and Barcelona's Ringo Media. Fully shot in Galician, María Vázquez (raised in the province of Lugo) faced the challenge of adapting her Galician to the variety from the Rías Baixas.

Release
The film made its world premiere on 17 February 2023 at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival, screened in the festival's Panorama lineup. Prior to its domestic theatrical release, it was presented at the 26th Málaga Film Festival on 11 March 2023. It was released theatrically in Spain on 24 March 2023.

Reception
Jonathan Holland of ScreenDaily, warning that "anyone looking for a plucky, against-the odds storyline told through the eyes of a victim of injustice has come to the wrong place", highlighted one of the film's key virtues being that [the protagonist] "is fallible and self-destructive".

Marta Bałaga of Cineuropa deemed the film to be "a welcome take on social cinema", otherwise featuring a protagonist [Ramona] that "feels real and fun to follow, even though one can run out of breath".

Accolades

 * rowspan = "3 | 2023 || 26th Málaga Film Festival || Silver Biznaga for Best Actress || rowspan="5"| María Vázquez || Won ||
 * 49th Seattle International Film Festival || Ibero-American Competition Special Jury Prize - Actress || Won ||
 * 29th Forqué Awards || Best Actress in a Film || Nominated ||
 * rowspan = "15" | 2024 || 11th Feroz Awards || Best Actress in a Film || Nominated ||
 * rowspan = "2" | 38th Goya Awards || Best Actress || Nominated || rowspan = "2" |
 * Best New Director || Álvaro Gago || Nominated
 * rowspan = "12" | 22nd Mestre Mateo Awards || colspan = "2" | Best Film || Nominated || rowspan = "12" |
 * Best Director || Álvaro Gago || Nominated
 * Best Screenplay || Álvaro Gago || Nominated
 * Best Actress || María Vázquez || Won
 * Best Supporting Actress || Susana Sampedro || Won
 * rowspan = "2" | Best Supporting Actor || Eduardo Alberto Rodríguez Cunha 'Tatán' || Nominated
 * Santi Prego || Won
 * Best Cinematography || Lucía C. Pan || Won
 * Best Editing || Ricardo Saraiva || Nominated
 * Best Production Supervision || Nati Juncal || Won
 * Best Sound || Xavier Souto, Diego Staub || Nominated
 * Best Makeup and Hairstyles || Sonia García || Nominated
 * }
 * Best Actress || María Vázquez || Won
 * Best Supporting Actress || Susana Sampedro || Won
 * rowspan = "2" | Best Supporting Actor || Eduardo Alberto Rodríguez Cunha 'Tatán' || Nominated
 * Santi Prego || Won
 * Best Cinematography || Lucía C. Pan || Won
 * Best Editing || Ricardo Saraiva || Nominated
 * Best Production Supervision || Nati Juncal || Won
 * Best Sound || Xavier Souto, Diego Staub || Nominated
 * Best Makeup and Hairstyles || Sonia García || Nominated
 * }
 * Best Editing || Ricardo Saraiva || Nominated
 * Best Production Supervision || Nati Juncal || Won
 * Best Sound || Xavier Souto, Diego Staub || Nominated
 * Best Makeup and Hairstyles || Sonia García || Nominated
 * }
 * Best Makeup and Hairstyles || Sonia García || Nominated
 * }
 * }