Spanish actor Paz Vega makes her directing debut with this sensitive portrait of domestic abuse and patriarchy in 1980s Spain. It’s told through the eyes of seven-year-old Rita (Sofía Allepuz), whose mum, Mari (played by Vega) is trapped in a violent marriage. We see the world how Rita sees it: filled with of moments of joy and discovery; her sense of wonder adds tenderness and hope to the story. It’s never voyeuristic (the violence happens almost entirely off screen), but Rita is effective at evoking how each member of the family is brutalised by abuse, living in a constant state of hypervigilance.
Rita works hard. Her little seven-year-old hands scrub, carry heavy plates and wash dishes to make her mother’s life a little easier. Rita’s five-year-old brother Lolo (Alejandro Escamilla), is anxious and timid, much to the irritation of their taxi driver dad José Manuel (Roberto Álamo). He is a man clenched with anger and frustration. “You’re an idiot,” he snaps at his wife with a contempt and fury that made me wince. Vega is terrific as Mari, a woman who is tender and loving with her children, but seems to have switched off some part of herself in order to live with José Manuel; she is on auto-pilot, drained and exhausted.
“All men are assholes!” a neighbour jokes to Rita. Her mum tells her to study hard, earn plenty of money – and never rely on a man. But everywhere around them is a message of male dominance. Divorce has just been legalised in Spain – but it feels doubtful it could be an option for a working-class woman like Mari. On the radio, an agony aunt tells a new mum that it is natural for her husband to cheat on her: “It means he’s healthy.” No one comes to help when José Manuel attacks Mari; the conclusion can only be that it’s not just bad men who are to blame for violence against women, but the entire culture. The message would be grim but Rita is a film warmed by optimism and compassion; at the heart of it is a lovely, unselfconscious performance by Allepuz.
• Rita is on digital platforms from 24 March.
• In the UK, call the national domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247, or visit Women’s Aid. In the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). In Australia, the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. Other international helplines may be found via www.befrienders.org.
