A bucolic summer vacation is transformed by tragedy in Forastera, the debut feature from Spanish director Lucía Aleñar Iglesias.
The evocative drama, which premieres in TIFF’s Discovery section for first- and second-time directors, is set during a fateful sun-soaked vacation on Mallorca.
Spanish director Lucía Aleñar Iglesias’ debut movie Forastera evolves around 16-year-old Cata (Spanish newcomer Zoe Stein) who, after the sudden loss of her beloved grandmother, steps into her role in an attempt to lessen her and her family’s grief.
Cata and her sister Eva (Martina García) are spending a carefree summer at their grandparents’ house in Mallorca when suddenly their beloved grandmother Catalina (Marta Angelat) dies, and their innocent holiday, as well as this movie, takes a tragic turn. Grandfather Tomeu (Lluís Homar) is crippled with grief. When Cata tries on one of her grandma’s vintage dresses, she finds herself slipping into the role of emotional caretaker, inhabiting the role Catalina played in the family.
In an exclusive first teaser for the film (watch below), Cata stands just outside the family home, gazing silently at grandfather Tomeu (played by legendary Spanish actor Lluís Homar (Broken Embraces, Bad Education)).
Iglesias expanded her eponymous short film for this feature debut, which was inspired both by ghost stories and tales of endless summers.
“I’m interested in the ways in which we project our deceased onto places, objects and especially onto other people,” the director said in a statement. “Whether conscious of it or not, grief can open us to new and eerie ways of keeping our loved ones around for longer. Cata mourns the loss of her grandmother by assimilating her persona, getting lost in her spirit, or at least Cata’s interpretation of it.”
The project was developed in part through the Cannes Film Festival’s Critics’ Week Next Step program for up-and-coming directors. Forastera will have its world premiere at the Toronto film festival on Sept. 8.
Produced by Lastor Media, Kino Produzioni, Fox in the Snow Films, La Perifèrica de Produccions, Vilaüt Films and Presenta, Forastera is being sold worldwide by Alpha Violet.
Check out the Forastera trailer below.