Alba (2016)

In the tender age of 11, Alba finds solace in the quiet company of little animals and in the silent games she plays to allow her ailing mother to rest. Her world, already tuned to the hushed rhythm of illness, shatters one night when her mother's condition worsens, leaving Alba catapulted into an unfamiliar reality. With no one else to turn to, Alba is thrust into the care of her father - a virtual stranger whom she hasn't seen since she was three. In the echoing chambers of her father's house, each tick of the clock amplifies their shared loneliness. Their cohabitation is a dance of shyness, a silent struggle of two souls trying to bridge years of absence. Alba's new life is a tapestry woven with threads of discomfort, her first kiss, tender yet awkward attempts from her father to connect, visits to her mother in the hospital, and the cruel sting of bullying at school. This is Alba's journey - a poignant exploration into the wilderness of puberty and a quest for self-acceptance. As she navigates these tumultuous waters, Alba learns that silence can often speak volumes, that unfamiliar can morph into familiar, and that even in the face of despair, hope can bloom. This is a tale of resilience, of blooming in adversity, and of finding one's place in a world that can often seem overwhelmingly big and unyielding.

Alba is a drama movie featuring Macarena Arias and directed by Ana Cristina Barragán.

Alba is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy and it's also available on MUBI and MUBI Amazon Channel.