‘Forever Your Maternal Animal’ Review – A Sincere And Gripping Portrait Of A Family [Cannes 2026]

Lives are complex. There is no such thing as a storybook existence. Especially when it comes to families, there are always wrinkles, and sometimes the burden of expectation or the weight of responsibility falls to a single member. Step outside the circle for a while, then return: perspectives change, and new insights emerge. That approach is the central thread of Valentina Maurel’s film, Forever Your Maternal Animal. Tackling the messiness of modern families and the landmines that come with a group of varying, dynamic personalities, the film explores the effects on one member. While at times the message becomes redundant, overall the film is made with great care and a singular focus on speaking truth about matters of family.

The film opens as Elsa (Daniela Marín Navarro) returns home to Costa Rica after years studying abroad in Europe. The time away offers her a fresh perspective and personal growth. While she eagerly looks forward to reuniting with her family, there is a sense that she is no longer the young girl who went off years ago. Once back home, she finds anything but a happy and content family. 

Her sister, Amalia (Mariangel Villegas), is introverted and seems to be nestling into her own world. Her mother, Isabel (Marina de Tavira), is chasing her own lost youth. She hits the publishing circuit and recycles erotic poems she wrote. And lastly, her father, Nahuel (Reinaldo Amién), is living his life drifting from one affair after another. Elsa is the only one to acknowledge that Amalia is in crisis, something that sets up a confrontation between mother and daughter that, despite everything, still binds them together. 

The story places more than physical distance between Elsa and her family. Her travel and studies were emotional, bringing her insights into her family dynamic and putting her seemingly at odds with her family. Isabel and Elsa have a strained relationship, particularly since Elsa is the one to speak up for Amalia. There is also a latent resentment or perhaps jealousy on the part of the mother. Her daughter left the nest and saw the world, forcing her to retreat to the corners of her own youth. While undoubtedly proud of her accomplishments, she throws her European studies in her face to belittle her understanding of what Amalia needs. 

Part of the story is a culture shock. Elsa’s time abroad undoubtedly shapes her perceptions of the situation, but it also conflicts with her parents’ views. Yes, there is a part of selfishness, but the parents operate from a different viewpoint. Whereas Elsa can pinpoint something is wrong with Amalia, the parents are blissfully oblivious. It further underscores why Isabel chastises Elsa’s time abroad.

There is a front-loading of emotional responsibility and charge placed on Elsa that makes her far different from her peers. I found an immediate sense of relatability with her character, particularly for anyone who has found themselves shouldering much of the responsibility in a family caregiving dynamic. Be it emotional or otherwise, the struggle here is front and center. The decision-making thrust upon her accelerates her maturity, and she finds herself entering the real world in quick succession upon arriving in San Jose.

The two parents are enduring a midlife crisis, while their own daughter is suffering, a central element of the film’s conflict. Both are consumed with themselves, leaving Elsa essentially the adult in the room. The story does not dwell on rosy family imagery (though the film looks stunning), but offers a frank assessment of caregiving and acceptance. The central tension is the desire for a family unit that one desires, rather than what actually exists. It is that tension that allows for this emotional journey to be front and center. It is a classic coming-home story about finding everything out of order. While familiar, it is the precise, at times messy, deconstruction of the fraying family unit that makes it all compelling.

Navarro anchors the film with a raw performance that stays grounded. It would be easy in this kind of story to overindulge or even do something camp-adjacent, but she keeps it real. The flashy moments fall to de Tavira, who is a force of nature in the film. Yet, Navarro is the emotional well we return to, and she delivers a truly special performance.

Now, the film does go into overtime at times, reinforcing its theme, and it becomes a bit tedious, but it is never enough to derail the overall momentum. Families can be chaotic and intense, and Maurel pulls no punches. The story feels liberating because of the candor. Nothing is neat and perfect, nor is there preachy melodrama found in many of these types of films. Forever Your Maternal Animal is the real deal. Primarily focusing on the three women of the family, it ultimately becomes a reunion story, unabashed and unrestrained.  

Forever Your Maternal Animal held its World Premiere in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. 

Director: Valentina Maurel

Screenwriter: Valentina Maurel

Rated: NR

Runtime: 100m

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