Synopsis

In a shelter run by an order of nuns we meet Lu, a young mother who seems to be more concerned with her flirtations than educating her daughter. This is not a rare case at this institution in Buenos Aires, where the nuns’ outward peace contrasts with the whirlwind of conflicts that multiply between the occupants. The arrival of Paola, a gentle Italian nun, disrupts the dynamic of the community, culminating when Paola approaches Lu’s daughter. This first feature from Maura Delpero offers us a distinctive take on the concept of motherhood, allowing us to ponder what it really means to be a mother. Maternal was one of the great successes of the influential Locarno Festival, where it won three awards.