Mother

Ten years have passed since Elena's six year old son disappeared after telling her he was lost on a remote beach and could not find his father. She runs a small seaside restaurant and is just starting to let a normal rhythm reappear in her days. A French teenager appears on the shore, bearing a striking resemblance to her boy, and Elena's guarded routine begins to bend. The encounter infuses her life with a dangerous mix of longing and doubt, drawing her into an intimate bond that unsettles neighbors and friends. As the relationship deepens, the line between memory and reality blurs and Elena is forced to face the consequences of choosing desire over caution. The film keeps the danger close without shouting about it.

Directed by Rodrigo Sorogoyen from an original script by Isabel Peña, Madre arrives as a lean psychological drama rather than a conventional thriller. The pairing highlights Sorogoyen's skill at layering tension with restrained, precise storytelling. Sorogoyen, known for terse camera work and psychological suspense, collaborates with Peña, whose dialogue sharpens character motivation.

Critics describe Madre as a lean, restrained meditation on grief and moral risk. It probes how a mother's trauma shapes choices and how longing can distort perception, especially when trust is tested by a flirtation with danger. Marta Nieto delivers a quiet, unwavering center to the film. The performances linger in memory after the credits.

No major awards or nominations are listed in the provided data. The film nonetheless drew attention in festival circuits and among viewers who seek European thrillers that prioritize mood and character over loud shocks. The absence of listed awards does not reflect the film's craft.

Although not a mainstream hit, Madre has sparked discussions about parenting, loss, and the ethics of attachment in contemporary cinema. Its austere tone and restrained scenes have contributed to Rodrigo Sorogoyen's reputation for using stillness to heighten dread. Its restrained style has influenced later European thrillers that favor atmosphere and ambiguity.