“Malu”: Director reflects on a difficult relationship with his mother in award -winning film

Complex relationships between mothers and daughters are a recurring theme in the cinema, from classics such as “Ties of Tenderness” to newer productions such as “Lady Bird” and “All everywhere at the same time.” But how is this dynamic when the complexity of the relationship is directly linked to the mother’s mental health?

This is the theme of “Malu”, a movie that tells The journey of a Malu, a middle-aged woman in the midst of an existential crisis despite a life full of achievements. The conflict with his conservative mother and her adult daughter makes this period even more challenging.

The feature, directed and scripted by Pedro Freire has as its main inspiration a valuable material: his own mother, the actress Malu Rocha .

“When my mother died in 2013, my sister and I organized her wake at the Workshop Theater, where she started her career. At that moment, I realized that its story deserved to be told in a movie, ”he told the CNN . “Someone needed to tell their trajectory and I felt the ideal person for that. Like his son, he deeply knew his life and shared countless experiences by his side. ”

However, when trying to transpose to the role the experiences he lived with his mother, the director soon realized that the process would be challenging.

“It was a very difficult process, because Malu was a person of extreme intensity both in good and challenging times, ”he explained. “There was a heavier side, as she faced depression, He had paranoia crises and moments of deep anger . And especially because of paranoia, sometimes it turned against me and my sister. ”

In the movie, who gives life to the actress in the feature is Yara de Novaes (“then the crazy I’m me”), gives life to Malu Rocha and admitted the weight of the role. “In a scene, for example, I needed to master the text to keep up with the intensity the character demanded. Technically, it was a challenge that I struggled a lot, ”she told CNN .

“Because, whether or not, when assuming a character, you become a kind of partner, don’t you?” He said. “So it was emotionally difficult, because I felt before an immense emptiness created by the role. It was as if I was really seeing Malu in a great abyss. ”

Pedro and his sister, Isadora, gain a representation in the movie “Malu” through Joana, character played by Carol Duarte . “It was built from their memories, both events and sensations,” he said.

“His most reserved and anxious behavior, his gestures and the habit of biting nails deeply reflects the experience of growing in a home with a mother like Malu.”

Inspiration in “Aquarius”

In addition to the difficulty of revisiting painful memories about his relationship with his mother, Pedro Freire faced a dilemma during the production of “Malu”.

“I was in doubt if you would make the movie about her youth or about her more mature phase already almost 60 years old, ”he admitted. He also recognized a certain prejudice regarding the age of the protagonist. “I think I was a little step. I had this fear, thinking that perhaps the public was not interested in a movie about a 55, 60 -year -old woman . ”

The film industry constantly reinforces the idea that youth is what really matters. However, when watching “Aquarius “ Kleber Mendonça Filho Pedro had a moment of epiphany: “I realized that Brazilian cinema does have a vocation to tell stories of women of this age. I could make this movie if I wanted to. In a way, ‘Aquarius’ authorized me to move on. ”

The world premiere of “Malu” took place in the competitive section of the World Dramatic Competition World Cinema at the Sundance Festival in the United States in January 2024. After that, the film was screened at film festivals in places like places Hong Kong , San Diego , Mexico , Croatia , India between others.

At the Rio 2024 Festival, “Malu” won the best actress for Yara de Novaes, best supporting actress for Carol Duarte and Juliana Carneiro da Cunha besides better script and best movie.

The film was also awarded at the Cairo Festival, with Yara de Novaes receiving the award for Best Actress and Pedro Freire being recognized with the Best First Movie Award. In January, Pedro was also awarded a special film award from the Paulista Association of Art Critics.

“Malu” follows in theaters.

Watch the trailer for “Malu”:

Also check out: the main releases of cinema for 2025

This content was originally published in “Malu”: Director reflects on a difficult relationship with his mother in award -winning film on CNN Brazil.

Source: CNN Brasil