This guide provides an overview of , a Spanish teen drama written and directed by Pilar Palomero. The film is celebrated for its raw social realism and empathetic portrayal of juvenile motherhood. Core Premise & Plot
Much of the film takes place within the shelter in Barcelona, where Carla must learn the heavy responsibilities of adulthood while still essentially being a child herself. La maternal (2022)
The story follows , a defiant 14-year-old who lives with her struggling single mother, Penélope, in a roadside diner. After a social worker discovers Carla is five months pregnant, she is moved to "La Maternal," a specialized shelter for underage mothers at risk of social exclusion. This guide provides an overview of , a
Carla Quílez, a breakout performer who was one of the few professional actors among a cast that included non-professionals playing fictionalized versions of themselves. The story follows , a defiant 14-year-old who
Carla struggles with her fear of being a "bad mother" like her own was, eventually finding solidarity and emotional growth through the community of young women at the shelter. Cast and Crew
Pilar Palomero, known for her Goya-winning debut Schoolgirls (Las niñas) .
Àngela Cervantes plays Penélope, Carla’s mother. Other residents at the shelter include Raki, Estel, Claudia, and Jamila. Themes & Analysis La Maternal - PÖFF