YO NO MORIRÉ DE AMOR BY MARTA MATUTE: A QUIET PORTRAIT OF CARE

One thing I had been thinking about on my way to the Málaga Film Festival was finding a worthy successor to last year’s winner, the sublime ‘Sorda’. This was one of the Spanish films that moved me the most in recent years, thanks to its delicate sensitivity and how well it handled its central theme. By the end of the screening of ‘Yo no moriré de amor’, directed by Marta Matute, I knew that I had found what I was looking for.

I was really hoping this film would captivate me, as it deals with Alzheimer’s disease, and it could be an emotional ride and for sure one of the films of the year. Its lead, the young actress Júlia Mascort, plays Claudia, a girl we will follow for a few years alongside her sister (Laura Weissmahr) and her father (Tomás del Estal) as they care for her mother (Sonia Almarcha), who has been diagnosed with the disease.

What surprised me most about this film is that it marks the director’s feature film debut. She could not have started her film career any better. Júlia Mascort, winner of the Biznaga de Oro for Best Leading Actress, delivers one of the most memorable performances of the festival alongside Laura Weissmahr and Tomás del Estal, winner of the Biznaga de Oro for Best Supporting Actor. Although she did not win an award, for me the film is carried by a superb Sonia Almarcha, who fully immerses herself in her role and delivers what I consider the best performance I have seen at this 29th Málaga Film Festival.

Marta’s camera handling is amazing, focusing primarily on Claudia’s character, which makes the audience experience just how difficult this situation is for her. And complementing all of this is the film’s beautiful soundtrack, a melody that stays with the public long after leaving the theater.

If someone asked me what my favorite part of the film is, I would definitely say that it is the ending. Without giving any spoilers, the shot shown to wrap up the movie is something I will always remember whenever I think of it, because it perfectly captures the emotion lingering in what happened in the final minutes. As Marta mentioned at the press conference, this film is a portrait of what she herself went through when her mother had Alzheimer, which she is kind of reliving in a way now that her father has dementia.

Marta Matute’s debut film, which has won a well-deserved Golden Biznaga for Best Film at this 29th Málaga Film Festival, addresses Alzheimer with a sensitivity that lingers with every viewer through everyday moments and through silences that carry more weight than any words. ‘Yo no moriré de amor’ looks at a difficult disease, but chooses to do so showing the bond that unites those who face it together. Marta allows space for the characters to exist without overstatement, and transforms pain into something intimate and recognizable. She does so by weaving an intimate narrative about care, patience, and that familiar love that endures even in the most delicate moments, while also offering a simple perspective on how difficult it is to stay when everything changes.

Words by @joaquinxbc