Amsterdam Spanish Film Festival: Verano En Diciembre

In ‘Verano en Diciembre’, director Carolina África presents a sharp and insightful comedy about the complexities of family dynamics, focusing on the personal struggles and emotional battles of the women at the heart of the story. Teresa (Carmen Machi) is the matriarch, tasked with the emotional and physical labor of caring for her mother-in-law with senile dementia. Her home becomes the setting for a family gathering to commemorate the anniversary of her late husband’s death, bringing together her daughters, each with distinct personalities and unresolved issues.

The film explores the tensions that arise when the hopes for a harmonious reunion collide with the realities of familial obligations and emotional baggage. The daughters,ranging from the dutiful caregiver to the rebellious free spirit,find themselves grappling not only with their own personal conflicts but also with the weight of the expectations placed on them. In the midst of a comical yet poignant family clash, each woman is forced to confront her own fears, frustrations, and desires for independence.