She realized in 2017 “Summer 1993”, a delicate film about a little girl entrusted to her uncle and aunt following the death of her parents. Six years later with “Our Sun” she took us to a peach producer threatened by a real estate project. For “Romeria” released this Wednesday, April 8, 2026, Carla Simon once again draws inspiration from her life, using cinematic narration to fill in the missing pieces of her story. Marina does not know her history as she was adopted at a young age. In order to enter university and pursue higher education, she needs a birth certificate. With a camera and her late mother’s diary as companions, she leaves Catalonia for Vigo in Galicia where her grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins are settled.
She will discover what was missing from her story and, in doing so, get to know her parents better, two young people who broke free from the constraints of the Franco years with perhaps too much enthusiasm. Like many young Spaniards in the early 80s, the movida overwhelmed them and they indulged in freedom, parties, but also drugs. Not for nothing, in those years, Spain experienced the highest rate of AIDS deaths.
Carla Simon delivers an impeccable film. Marina will enjoy the boat trips to the Cies Islands, taste the cold waters of the Atlantic and the enthusiasm of this little-known family, particularly her cousin Nuno (played by the actor and singer Mitch). She will also understand the extent to which her grandparents, bourgeois steeped in social conventions, turned their backs on her parents.
Carla Simon delivers a flawless film, whether in its lighting, pacing, directing of actors, and the handling of its screenplay. A must-see.
“Don’t miss ‘Romeria’ – 1h 54 – Wednesday, April 8.”
