El Planeta

AroView: A thoughtful and striking indie comedy from writer/director Amalia Ulman who plays alongside her real-life mother as slightly absurd versions of themselves - bluffing and grifting to keep up the lifestyle they think they deserve.

The black-and-white cinematography and considered framing lend an otherworldliness to their former home city of Gijón in the north of Spain, which has been ravaged by economic downturn. Living in denial on the brink of losing their apartment, these are women determined to go down in style. Recommended for fans of Lena Dunham’s “Tiny Furniture” and Miranda July’s “Kajillionaire”, both obvious and worthy touchstones.

“The frequently complicated relationship between mother and daughter has fostered plenty of cinematic investigation, but El Planeta easily distinguishes itself as a uniquely meta and universal addition to the canon.” ~Natalia Keogan, Paste Magazine

“A bittersweet comedy of human behavior observed with a relaxed yet intently focused eye.” ~Keith Watson, Slant Magazine