Julita Salmerón wanted three things in life: to have lots of children, to own a monkey, and to live in a castle. She actually did have six children, owned a monkey, and lived in a real castle. But when the 2008 economic crisis hit, septuagenarian Julita was forced to clear out thecastle—and everything she hoarded—for less opulent accommodations. Gustavo Salmerón’s feature debut is an idiosyncratic portrait of a charismatic mother and her singular approach to life, and at the same time a madcap allegory for the contemporary situation in Spain. Edited from over 400 hours of home video footage shot over 14 years, this charming film possesses warmth, humanity, and insight. In Spanish with English subtitles.
First feature
Reviews: Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Screen Daily, POV, Cineuropa
Interviews: Karlovy Vary