Estiu 1993
By Kit Macdonald
The Catalan director Carla Simón won the Golden Bear at the 2022 Berlinale for the magnificent Alcarràs, but five years before that came her debut feature, Estiu 1993 *Summer 1993). Tender and inspired by the director's own life, the film follows six-year-old Frida, who is sent to live with her uncle, aunt and young cousin in rural Catalunya following the death of her mother. Though the adults avoid discussing the circumstances, it gradually becomes clear that Frida’s mother died of an Aids-related illness, and that shadow hangs over the family’s attempts to move forward.
Rather than dramatising the tragedy, Simón focuses on the textures of everyday life: long summer days in the countryside, small conflicts between children and the awkward, often wordless negotiations between Frida and her new guardians. The film is shot with natural light and a subtle camera, creating an intimate, observational tone. Much of its emotional power comes from the performances of the two young leads, Laia Artigas and Paula Robles, whose interactions always feel spontaneous and unforced.