When a Tree Falls (Amama)

(Amama)
Asier Altuna | Drama, Fiction

2015 | 103 minutes | Spain

This powerfully visualized drama of generational conflict signals the emergence of a vital Basque regional cinema in Spain.

Basque Studies Family Sociology Religion + Spirituality Visual Arts Basque Studies Culture + Identity
Synopsis

This powerfully visualized drama of generational conflict signals the emergence of a vital Basque regional cinema in Spain.

The crux of the film is a farm, spectacularly situated in the mountainous northeast, that has remained in the same family for countless generations. But, when the eldest son and heir apparent, like so many of the region’s young people, decamps to the city, the burden passes to his sister Amaia (Elias), an artist whose progressive ways place her at odds with her rigidly traditionalist father (Aranga).

The film’s title, which means "Grandma" in Basque, refers to the family matriarch who will play a pivotal role in Amaia’s attempt to bridge the divide between tradition and evolution. - Gene Siskel Film Center

Reviews

"If you want to be thoughtfully melancholy for a couple of hours in the presence of images of striking beauty, watch Amama." — Jonathan Holland, The Hollywood Reporter

"An intense generation gap drama set in a remote area of northern Spain's Basque Country, Asier Altuna's visually sumptuous second feature about a family's struggle to break loose from its past is sometimes ponderous but more often poetic, rolling with a slow cumulative power which means that by the end, most early doubts about hollow pretentiousness have been dispelled." — Jonathan Holland, The Hollywood Reporter

Citation
Main credits

Altuna, Asier (film director)
Altuna, Asier (screenwriter)
Fernández Pascal, Marian (film producer)
Esnal, Telmo (screenwriter)
Uranga, Kandido (actor)
Elias, Iraia (actor)
Badiola, Amparo (actor)
Badiola, Klara (actor)

Other credits

Cinematography, Javier Agirre Erauso; editor, Laurent Dufreche; music, Mursego, Javi P3Z.


Citation
Cataloging
Keywords
matriarchy, basque, Basque Country, independent cinema, spanish, spanish language, latin america, latin american cinema, latin american film, ibero america, latin, latinx, latino, latina,,basque country, basque studies, basque language, basque, basques, vascos, vasco, vascongado, euskara, euskera, aquitani,family, kin, fellowship, household, immediate family, extended family, multigenerational family, multigenerational household, kinfolk, family tree, genealogy, nuclear family, modern family, family tree,culture, identity, identity politics, culture wars, left wing, right wing, intersectionality, identity groups, civilization, literacy, humanism, cancel culture, online culture, cultural revolution, cultural diffusion, culture shock, popular culture, pop culture, material culture, cultural capital, cultural assimilation ,religion, spirituality, organized religion, soul, spiritual beliefs, religious beliefs, belief systems, branches of religion, religious sects, sects, gods and goddesses, monotheism, theism, pantheism, polytheism, spiritual awakening,visual arts, painting, drawing, printmaking, filmmaking, craft, crafts, architecture, ceramics, photography, video, videomaking, film, conceptual art, installation art, art exhibits, artmaking, photos, videography, sculpting, sculpture, theatre, theater, music, musicmaking, music performance, art styles, art history, plastic arts, fine art, fine arts, visual arts centers, visual arts education, jewelry, jewelrymaking, beaux arts, graphic arts, graphic design, abstract art, art galleries, art gallerist, galleries, gallery, gallerist, gallerists, illustration,amama,basque,trees,when a tree falls,cuando un arbol cae,Three Strangers,dangerous when wet,hidden life of trees,family farms,family disfunction,if a tree falls,goya,tree,goya award,A mama,fall,the mar inside,tree of life,amami,elia suleiman,goya awards,san sebastian,comedies in spanish,family drama,If a tree alls,elia,"when a tree falls",foreign films,sicko,amana,SAN FRANCISCO,farming,A Tree Falls.,holland,eating animals,when night falls,sacred,the tree of life,Agnieszka Holland,ammama; "When a Tree Falls"; Pragda; narrative; Basque; Spain; ; drama
Clips
No clips are available yet.
Festivals

Goya Awards® - Nominated, Best Newcomer Actress
San Sebastián Film Festival
Cinemed Montpellier Festival of Mediterranean Cinema
Cinemamed Festival Mediterraneen de Bruxelles
Tallin Black Nights Film Festival
Mar del Plata International Film Festival

DIRECTOR: Asier Altuna

NATIONALITY: Spain

YEAR: 2015

GENRE: Drama, Fiction

LANGUAGE: Basque

COLOR / B&W: Color

GRADE LEVEL: College, Adults

SUBTITLE/CC: AVAILABLE

AUDIO DESCRIPTION: NOT AVAILABLE

Existing customers, please log in to view this film.

New to Pragda? Register to request a quote.

Related Films

READ MORE

The Delay

La demora
Drama, Fiction France, Mexico, Uruguay
An exploration of the intense, painful ambivalence of family responsibility. When her elderly father's mental deterioration becomes a burden for her and three young children, María has to make a drastic decision.
READ MORE

The Deer

Oreina
Drama, Fiction Spain
Khalil is a rootless young man who lives in the city’s margins, spending his days with a poacher who shares a house with a brother he has not talked to for years. On the shores of the marsh, the tides mark the time for love and indifference, friendship and revenge.
READ MORE

Asier and I

Asier eta Biok
Documentary Ecuador, Spain
Asier and I follows Aitor as he ties to understand what could have led his childhood friend to join the terrorist group ETA. Armed with a camera, Aitor meets Asier upon his release from jail, ready to tell this story.
READ MORE

When You No Longer Love Me

Cuando dejes de quererme
Fiction, Romance Spain
While investigating her father's death, Laura learns of the Spanish hard times during the ETA's war against the Franquist Regime, and her family's possible involvement in those crimes.
READ MORE

Chillida: The Depth of Air

Chillida: Lo profundo es el aire
Documentary Spain
A poetic and fast-paced reminiscence of one of the most prominent sculptors of the 20th century.
READ MORE

Bertsolari

Documentary, Musical Spain
Bertsolaritza is an ancestral, completely improvised, form of Basque poetry. Anachronistic? Not at all: the bertsolari, with their spontaneous creation and wordplay, could be an inspiration for rappers and other improv artists.
READ MORE

My Grandmother's House

La casa de mi abuela
Documentary Spain
A beautifully constructed documentary that depicts with great subtlety the changing ways in suburban Spain. Adán Aliaga has turned a simple subject into a dashing and fast paced, remarkably candid documentary on family life in Spain, modernization and generational change. A tribute to grandmothers everywhere, filled with painterly images of southeastern Spain and a director’s love for his family.
READ MORE

The Path of the Shepherd

La senda del pastor
Documentary Spain
A journey through the vocation of six shepherds who see how the profession they love comes to an end.
READ MORE

Guaraní

Drama, Fiction, Adventure Argentina, Paraguay
Part road movie and part coming-of-age drama, Guaraní portrays two generations of Paraguayans whose views of the world seem centuries apart. A long journey to Buenos Aires will make Atilio and Iara understand the real meaning of traditions and family bonds.
READ MORE

Amerikanuak

Documentary Spain
More than half a century ago, many Basques left Spain to look for a better life working as sheepherders in the American West. In Amerikanuak, Nacho Reig looks at the lives of some of the last remaining Basque sheepherders in the United States.

Related Collections

Fiction Films

A compelling glimpse into Spain and Latin America's rich storytelling traditions, showcasing a blend of established directors and emerging voices. Each film highlights the depth and creativity of the region.

Number of titles: 275

SEE COLLECTION >
Family Dysfunction Unleashed

Through poignant narratives and authentic characters, these movies navigate the intricate dynamics, exposing the raw emotions, conflicts, and unexpected bonds that shape the multifaceted landscapes of family dysfunction.

Number of titles: 28

SEE COLLECTION >
Spanish Language Films

A cinematic highlight of the magic and diversity of the Spanish language.

Number of titles: 440

SEE COLLECTION >
Women's Voices

These films challenge dominant narratives and offer compelling feminine visions of the region's past, present, and future.

Number of titles: 216

SEE COLLECTION >
The Pragda Complete Film Collection

The essence of Spain and Latin America captured in their original language with English captions or subtitles.

Number of titles: 637

SEE COLLECTION >
The Arts

A fascinating journey into the creative process and the transformative power of artistic expression.

Number of titles: 139

SEE COLLECTION >
Religion and Spirituality

Explore the universal quest for meaning through captivating films that span cultures, rituals, and personal reflections. Ancient traditions and contemporary searches invite contemplation on the essence of faith and spirituality.

Number of titles: 76

SEE COLLECTION >