Matria

When a woman reaches 42, does she start running out of the energy that she needs - to stop her world from disintegrating? Ramona (Maria Vazquez) needs a lot of energy, because she lives an exuberant life, robustly interacting with the world and with people. She's on the screen in "Matria" (available with English sub-titles) nearly all the time.

Some viewers will find this film frustrating, because amid all the crowded incident in her life it seems to take a long time before we can see something "happening," that is, something that is going to lead to a crisis. Because Ramona can cope. Life is full of low-level perils, and if you can't cope, what use are you? "If you are like our land (Galicia in Spain) and our land is like you," you will be stalwart, you will cope. Other characters she impacts don't always appreciate her resolute attempts to impose her style of coping on their lives. She "advises" others, but they don't get to advise her.

Some definitions applicable to Ramona's experience of life: Your offspring - they're ungrateful, feckless, they don't seem to realise that they need to concentrate on their studies, or they'll end up doing the same kind of menial work as the mother. Guys - a pretty helpless, unreliable bunch, they drink too much, they need to be reassured with a cuddle (phooey), even while their roving eyes keep searching for alternative talent. Your health - likely to let you down, just when you need it to stay strong. Good looks - they start slipping away, just when you might need them. Employers - always demanding more, paying less. Factories - the pollution could kill you, if the ciggies don't get you first. Employment - when you need a job, suddenly there are no jobs to be had. Cleaning - always needs to be done right now, and it will soon need to be done all over again. Sisters - a best-friend sister can be the one untarnished bright spot in your life.

Being a woman - it's exhausting. In fact it's rather exhausting just watching Ramona being a woman. Being a woman burns up a lot of energy. Maybe Ramona is going to run out of energy. But I hope she doesn't. She's a force of nature.