MADRE

Spain, France

Synopsis

Ten years have gone by since Elena’s six-year old son has disappeared. The last thing she heard of him was a phone call he gave her, saying that he was lost on a beach in France and couldn’t find his father. Nowadays, Elena lives on this same beach and manages a restaurant. She is finally beginning to emerge from this tragic episode when she meets a French teenager who strongly reminds her of her lost son. The two of them will embark on a relationship, which will sow chaos and distrust around them.

Director's Statement

With the feature film MOTHER, I was interested in moving away from the thriller aspects of the short film to explore the intimate story of a mother, years after she has lost her son. Living with her grief and struggling to emerge from the dark tunnel into which she was plunged. What would happen if Elena encountered a teenager who reminded her strongly of her son? She knows it isn’t him. But she wants to be with him and know him. MOTHER is a love story. A special love, that of a mother for her son throughout time. A mother who was not been able to say goodbye to her son and who is now ready to do so. It is also a journey from darkness to light. From death to life. From guilt to forgiveness. From fear to love.

Director's Biography

Rodrigo Sorogoyen studied at ECAM, specialising in scriptwriting, and began working while still very young as a writer on television series.
At 25, he co-directed the film 8 CITAS. Then he started working with the production company Isla de Babel as a writer and director on series such as IMPARES, LA PECERA DE EVA, FRÁGILES or RABIA.
In 2011, along with three partners, he set up Caballo Films and they produced the film STOCKHOLM with a script by Isabel Peña and Sorogoyen He directed the film, which become one of the revelations of the year. Financed by crowdfunding, it received excellent reviews and won numerous awards such as three Biznagas at the Malaga Festival (including Best Director and Best First Script), three medals from the Film Writers’ Circle (including Best New Director), the Feroz award for Best Dramatic Film in 2013 and the Goya for Best New Actress at the 2014 edition. Rodrigo also received a Goya nomination that year, in the category Best New Director.
In 2016, he released QUE DIOS NOS PERDONE, a thriller co-written with Isabel Peña and produced by Tornasol and Atresmedia, starring Antonio de la Torre and Roberto Álamo. The film became one of the sensations of the season, earning great reviews and wining the Jury Award for Best Script at the San Sebastian Film Festival and the Goya for Best Actor for Álamo.
In 2018 he released EL REINO, also co-written with Isabel Peña and produced by Tornasol and Atresmedia. After passing through San Sebastián, the film achieves unanimity in good reviews and public acceptance. It won seven Goya Awards, including Best Director and Best Screenplay.
Last year, Rodrigo shot the TV series ANTIDISTURBIOS for Movistar+ and, this year, EN CASA for HBO, both of them in post-production right now. At this moment, he is preparing his fifth feature film, already in pre-production and scheduled to be shot this fall.

FILMOGRAPHY:
2019 MADRE
2018 EL REINO
2017 MADRE, short
2016 QUE DIOS NOS PERDONE
2013 STOCKHOLM
2008 8 CITAS
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Cast & Crew

Directed by: Rodrigo Sorogoyen

Written by: Isabel Peña, Rodrigo Sorogoyen

Produced by: María del Puy Alvarado Landa, Ibon Cormenzana, Rodrigo Sorogoyen, Ignasi Estapé, Jérôme Vidal, Jean Labadie

Cinematography: Alex de Pablo

Editing: Alberto del Campo

Production Design: Lorena Puerto

Costume Design: Ana López Cobos

Make-Up & Hair: Sylvie Imbert, Jesús Gil

Original Score: Olivier Arson

Sound: Nicolas Mas, Fabiola Ordoyo, Nicolas de Poulpiquet

Casting: Julie Navarro, Dovile Gasiunaite

Cast: Alex Brendemühl (Joseba), Anne Consigny (Lea), Frederic Pierrot (Gregory), Guillaume Arnault (Benoit), Marta Nieto (Elena), Jules Porier (Jean)

Nominations and Awards

  • European Actress 2020
  • Feature Film Selection 2020