27/09/2024 - Alauda Ruiz de Azúa proves not only that her sense of narrative has evolved, but also that she can offer an even more terrifying vision of the sacrosanct institution of the heteropatriarchal family

Nagore Aranburu in Querer

A city in the north of Spain (Bilbao, to be precise). An upper-class family. Two independent, adult children. An unhappy mother who has stayed silent for too long. A father comfy in his status as king, as lord and master of his home. This is the premise that kicks off the series Querer [+see also:
trailer
interview: Alauda Ruiz de Azúa
series profile], the first foray into this format by Basque helmer Alauda Ruiz de Azúa, the same person who, two years ago, premiered her feature debut, Lullaby [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Alauda Ruiz de Azúa
film profile], at the Berlinale before going on to triumph in style at the Málaga Film Festival and pick up three Goya Awards, including one for Best New Director.

Afterwards, the director took on the Netflix commission Love at First Kiss, a romantic comedy that she took advantage of to further hone that knack she has for well-measured narratives, which she demonstrated so well in her feature debut. And now, another platform, Movistar Plus+, has placed its trust in her proven talent to stage this series, consisting of four extremely tense 50-minute episodes, which has premiered out of competition at the 72nd San Sebastián Film Festival.

Once again, the family is at the heart of the storyline, but this time, it’s not the daughter’s new motherhood that throws the lives of her parents (and her own) into turmoil, but rather the accusation that a mother (played by Nagore Aranburu) levels at her husband (Pedro Casablanc), claiming he has been subjecting her to sexual violence for decades. Such a bombshell disrupts the fragile balance of this family – and that of their social circle – and especially affects the two children (played by Miguel Bernardeau and Iván Pellicer) who, after the initial shock, will have to decide whether to support their mother or their father, while listening to multiple different versions of the events under scrutiny.

However, as the series shows very deftly, it’s not so easy to take sides in such a delicate and complex situation. Waves of doubt crash down on those affected, and also on the viewer, who will wonder: “How would I behave?”, “What would become of my life if I were to be in a similar situation?”, and even “To what extent have I tolerated psychological abuse in my most private circles?”

With its first part exposing the conflict and its final section delving into the trial stemming from the accusation of gender-based violence, Querer shows that there is neither an easy path to follow nor a solution for victims of abuse, who usually feel alone in facing the dangers, because they don’t always get the support they need from society or from their families. Feelings of guilt and fear thus seep into the protagonist’s spirit, as she feels the abyss appearing beneath her feet after opening a Pandora’s box that needed to be unlatched.

What’s more, at this trial, the children will hear about aspects of their parents’ lives that they could never have imagined. A dilemma – and a great deal of confusion – looms over these youngsters who are never sure whether or not they’re making the right decision. All of this emotional tension is part and parcel of this resoundingly mature, courageous and intense series, featuring a cast directed outstandingly by Alauda Ruiz de Azúa, who once again dares to rummage around in the most intimate nooks and crannies of the family.

Querer is a Movistar Plus+ original series made in conjunction with Feelgood Media and Kowalski Films. Its international sales have been entrusted to Movistar Plus+ International.

(Translated from Spanish)

Photogallery 27/09/2024: San Sebastian 2024 - Querer

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Alauda Ruiz de Azúa, Nagore Aranburu, Loreto Mauleón, Miguel Bernardeau, Iván Pellicer
© 2024 Dario Caruso for Cineuropa - @studio.photo.dar, Dario Caruso