Loss of a loved one hits differently across cultures, and Forestera explores grief from the perspective of a young Spanish woman while on holiday in Mallorca. Cata (Zoe Stein) and her sister Eva (Martina García) are clearly enjoying their time with their grandma Catalina (Marta Angelat) and grandpa Tomeu (Lluís Homar). They have a special bond with their abuela (grandma), especially since their mom is off working in Madrid. Cata is the one who discovered her grandma, whom she’s named after, lying lifeless in the front yard. This loss hits her hard, but Cata deals with her grief internally, while her grandpa is openly devastated by the loss.
Forastera is a term used by locals in Mallorca to describe Spaniards from the mainland who visit the island. It carries a dual meaning since Cata is not just a stranger to the island, but she also becomes somewhat ‘estranged’ from herself mentally as she starts to connect with her grandma’s spirit. This beautiful, dreamlike feature, written and directed by Lucía Aleñar Iglesias, is her debut film, developed from her short film.
As Cata tries on her grandma’s vintage dresses, it seems to spark something within her as she begins to take on the persona of the elder Catalina. Initially, it’s subtle, but soon Cata starts to speak like her grandma, smoking her cigarettes, and even starts to become interested in cooking when she didn’t care for it before. Cata’s mother, Pepa (Núria Prims), also notices something odd when her daughter is playing dress-up and tells her not to wear her grandma’s clothes.
Cata has a bit of a rebellious side, which is common for teenagers. She just wants to hang out with her summer love, Max (Nonni Ardal Hammarström), who is also a stranger on the island from Sweden, but her grief often takes over. She begins to sense that she’s going through what her grandma went through, like the trauma her abuela experienced involving a dead octopus. She tries to console her grandpa, who is clearly struggling with the loss of his wife. However, it can be a bit confusing for Tomeu when Cata acts and speaks to him like his late wife.
While I was watching it, I found myself wondering if Cata is mimicking her grandmother to deal with her loss or if her abuela’s ghost is actually inhabiting her. Iglesias intentionally leaves it up to the audience to interpret. Forastera is an unconventional ghost story, and it’s the type I enjoy since it’s not really a horror film, even though it has some eerie elements.
There’s a subtle elegance in how the story unfolds, although some viewers might find its languid pace challenging. Others might argue that ‘nothing happens’ in this film, but it’s filled with fascinating details about this family in mourning. At first, the relationship between Cata and her mother is tense, possibly because her mom is too focused on her career. However, there’s a touching moment between them when Cata admits she hasn’t been able to cry over her grandma’s passing.
Stein is impressive as Cata; there’s a subtle yet powerful shift as she becomes more ‘possessed’ by her abuela’s spirit. She comes across as wise beyond her years, almost as if she’s taken on the confidence of an older, more experienced woman. On top of that, losing someone dear at such a young age can also push a person to mature more quickly. Stein has a commanding presence on screen and really shines under Iglesias’ direction.
Mallorca feels like a character in its own right, with DP Agnès Piqué Corbera beautifully capturing the sun-drenched island’s charm and idyllic ambiance, which can sometimes feel as foreboding as it is beguiling. Iglesias’ debut effectively portrays the intergenerational relationship authentically. The narrative and dialogue resonate with a personal touch; perhaps she drew on real-life experiences to write this story. The ghostly elements aren’t overly dramatic but are genuinely touching. The film makes you think about the people we’ve lost that we wish we could say goodbye to. More than that, it makes me reflect on the profound losses in my own life that have helped shape who I am.
Opens in limited theatrical release this Friday, May 29,
with national rollout to follow
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I’ve heard about this film. It looks interesting. I hope it comes to streaming soon.
Hey Steven! It’s a good one, Lucía Aleñar Iglesias is a new strong voice in cinema, I hope she continues to make films in the future!
This film intrigues me. I like it when “nothing happens” and much is conveyed through subtle details and mood. Sounds like a thoughtful and promising debut.
Hiya Ruth, Hope you had a great time in Japan. Welcome back!
Yeah, I like meditative films when they’re done right. It’s definitely a moody film with beautiful ambiance and terrific performances.
Japan was magical; I LOVED it!! The sights are obviously amazing, but the food is something else! I rate the trip higher than my trips to Europe simply because of the wonderful Japanese cuisines.
Oh and I did manage to visit two of the most prominent public toilets featured in Perfect Days! I’ll post photos on my monthly recap 😀
I’ve never heard of this film before but it sounds interesting. Spain is one of my favorite countries to visit, so I like anything that takes place in that country. I’ve always wanted to visit Mallorca and came close to go there for a video shoot for my company. I think most of the hotels on the island are clients of the company I work for. But of course Covid happened and the trip was cancelled. I’ll eventually get there someday. Lol!
Hey Ted! I’ve only been to Barcelona years ago with my late mom and brothers. I’d love to revisit, and Mallorca sounds really enchanting! Hopefully you get to visit for work or pleasure.
Btw, Japan was wonderful, as I mentioned in my email; the sights are great, but the food is spectacular!
When I go back to Spain, I’ll probably stop at Barcelona for a day, it’s too touristy. The last time I was in Spain was back in January of 2020 in the cities of Malaga and Marbella. If you ever go back to Spain, I highly recommend those two cities, they’re beautiful and not packed with tourists. Marbella is like Miami but not as hectic, a lot of rich and famous people have their mansions there. I was supposed to go back to Spain in April of 2020 and do a video shoot in Mallorca but of course we know what happened. Lol.
Glad you enjoy your time in Japan, now you make me want to book a trip back there asap! Ha ha! Yes, I love Japanese foods and I’m glad we have some good and authentic Japanese foods here in the States. I just wish we have them here in MN, I have to go out west to find those foods.
Yeah, Barcelona is VERY touristy and the people seem to be anti tourists, which makes me hesitant to visit. Malaga and Marbella sound lovely! I’ll be sure to ask you when we visit Spain one day. We’re setting our sights in Greece for next year!
Japan is truly amazing… so clean and safe, you never felt unsafe while we’re there even walking alone in a dark alley at night. I wish we had more authentic Japanese food here, the closest one to me is in Eagan, called ORYZA which sells ramen and poke. The owner is a Japanese lady and it’s really good!
I think the locals in Barcelona doesn’t want tourists in their city anymore because everything got more expensive with so many people visiting the city. People in Malaga and Marbella are happy that there aren’t that many tourists visiting those areas and I think they want to keep it that way. Lol!
I looked up Oryza and the foods looks good, I’ll have to go try it since it’s not that far my house. My favorite ramen shop here called The Zen Box closed last year and I was depressed because I miss their foods. But there’s a place called Kajiken Ramen in Richfield that has become my favorite. It’s located in the same strip mall as Tous Les Jours Cafe.
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This sounds intriguing, Ruth.
Languid paces can work brilliantly when used, and it seems not much is happening.
First off, death is a huge happening. All the other things are working around this fact. It’s a solid core.
It makes me think of Glengarry Glen Ross. There’s only one happening in the film… a theft. Everything works around that. It’s slow and captivating.
I’ll have to check this out!
xo❦🕊🌹🕊❦xo
Yes you’re right! The grandma’s death certainly is a huge happening for the family. I said some might think there’s nothing happening but I found there are much in the details that fascinated me. It’s one of the best films about familial relationships and young people dealing with death early in life. It’s something I relate to as I lost my mom and my fave uncle within 3 months of each other when I was 16.
Thanks for checking out the post!
❤ ❦ ♡ ♥
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