Lullaby

Nothing turns your world upside down like having a baby. Being a parent is the ultimate test for an established relationship, and you can largely kiss self-care goodbye for an extended period of time. It’s an exclusive club that you are suddenly a member of, and the knowing glance you give parents you meet around town is akin to a secret handshake. It’s a relief knowing you aren’t the only one not sleeping! Misery loves company, but for an experience as common as procreation, there’s a surprising dearth of films that accurately portray the experience.

Lullaby, a Spanish drama from Alauda Ruiz de Azúa, happens to be a rare exception to the rule. It’s a poignant film about the travails of Amaia (Laia Costa), a young mother overwhelmed by the change motherhood has brought to bear upon her personal and professional life. Her husband, Javi (Mikel Bustamante), is an enthusiastic father, but he has a valuable work opportunity that will take him away for a period of time. Amaia is less than thrilled by this development, so she decides to stay with her parents, Begoña and Koldo, on the Basque in the hopes that they can provide much-needed respite.

“…young mother overwhelmed from the change…”

It doesn’t go as smoothly as she intended. Begoña (Susi Sánchez) is a traditional mother and is exhausted by Koldo’s (Ramón Barea) oblivious behavior. The introduction of a former fling of Begoña’s reorients Amaia’s perception of how healthy the marriage of her parents actually is under the surface. Adding a screaming infant to this turbulent environment isn’t exactly the best medicine. A shocking development later in the film brings everyone closer together, though, reminding viewers of the unshakable bonds of family. When tragedy strikes, these bonds can become unshakable.

The film hinges upon the stellar performances of its cast. Laia Costa is a revelation (viewers may recognize her from 2015’s one-take film Victoria), and her chemistry with Susi Sánchez is worth the price of admission in and of itself. It’s understandably difficult for actors to convincingly play a mother-and-daughter pairing. A lifelong relationship is hard to duplicate through acting alone, especially when it’s the core of a film’s narrative. Their relationship feels strikingly organic, and that’s a credit not only to them but also to the impeccable direction of de Azúa. Barea, too, is remarkable as an aging husband who would be lost without his wife.

This is a special film, and the family dynamics depicted will hit close to home for many in the audience. I can’t recall a recent movie that is more attuned to both the challenges and the opportunities that parenthood brings to bear upon not only the parents but also upon the entire family at large. It’s transformative, and through Lullaby, we’re able to better appreciate what our own parents went through. And if you happen to watch this while being the parent of a little one of your own, it will prove even more valuable — even if you have to watch it between diaper changes and disastrous attempts at napping.