APRIL’S DAUGHTER (LAS HIJAS DE ABRIL) World Cinema

Seventeen-year-old Valeria is pregnant and lives with her sister Clara. She wants to keep her pregnancy a secret from her absent and domineering mother April. When Clara tells April about her sister’s condition, their mother suddenly arrives, full of loving support and promises to help Valeria through this life-changing event. But once the baby is born, April’s true intentions are revealed and it becomes clear why Valeria wanted to keep her mother away. Anchored by fantastic performances from acclaimed Spanish actress Emma Suárez (JULIETA, AFI FEST 2016) and newcomer Ana Valeria Becerril, AFI FEST alum Michel Franco crafts a tense drama that explores how the complexities of family dynamics can lead to chaos. – Jenn Murphy