Since watching this movie I haven't been able to stop thinking about it.

Everything about Madre is just mesmerizing: the setting, the continuous takes, the acting, the characters (especially Elena), and of course the unique plot. It's also a perfect example of "show don't tell": we never learn exactly what the protagonist feels for Jean (motherly love, or more?), nor do we learn what happened to Ivan, or why Elena has lived in France after his disappearance (has she really never given up her search for him?). Much needs to be filled in by the reader, which probably makes this film so graceful and elegant. Every scene is meaningful and refined.

If it isn't clear by now, I can't recommend this movie enough.

I just finished watching this on-line. Due to numerous stops and sputters and freezes, it took me nearly 5 hours to watch a 2 hour film. Suffice it to say that had it not been THAT good, I never would have kept trying for 5 hours. Where do I begin with this film. There's no question that you are immediately absorbed from the start. The acting, script, directing, cinematography are superb and the relationships develop in a fascinating way. Note how Jean starts talking to Elena the first time he comes to the cafe. It's classic male teenager yet there's something so enchanting about him. Jean, Elena and her boyfriend Joseba are presented so tenderly that even when the wheels are starting to come off, we are with them. There are so many fascinating aspects, not the least of which is that we are grappling with a relationship that eludes the usual boxes and labels. A film well worth watching.

After watching the short film predecessor, which was nominated for the Oscar, I was expecting a story related to the dissapearance of Elena's son, Iván. It's been a real surprise how it's been developed, which takes place ten years after that tragedy and introduces us to a mother, Elena, who has just recovered and she has the bad or the good luck to meet a boy, Jean, who is age her son would be today.

The script is quite good, it's a scant irregular and especially the scene of the meeting with three men in the night club is totally left over, it's very unpleasant and adds nothing to the story. The rest of the characters on several occasions are overacted. In spite of this, I love the director's daring and the social criticism that love between a mand and a much younger woman is well seen, and the opposite is frowned upon.

It's magnificent to enjoy each image with this beauty of photography and the great chemistry between the two protagonists.

Finally, to highlight Marta Nieto's performance, there are no words to describe it. It's the best spanish performance of 2019.