Seventeen-year-old Valeria is about to have a baby with her teenaged boyfriend when, against her wishes, her half-sister invites their mother, April (played by Emma Suárez of Julieta fame), into their home. Valeria’s reasons for keeping her mother away are quickly made clear, as April’s erratic and provocative behavior begins to reopen old wounds and threaten the family’s future together. Writer/director Michel Franco immersed his cast in their roles by giving them a week together, alone in the home that would be their central location. He also shot the film chronologically, a quite uncommon practice in the world of cinema today. With camera work that is observational and unobtrusive, Franco keeps his audience far enough back to allow them to make their own judgments regarding the drama on screen. This unsettling story is sure to draw you to the edge of your seat. And when it does, this Cannes Un Certain Regard winner will have all of your attention.

In competition for the Cine Latino Award.