Amaia and Javi have just had their first child. Amaia’s parents – the friendly Koldo and the energetic Begoña – are visiting to help the young family for a few days. After their departure, the new parents try to balance the new challenges and their professional obligations. But when Javi disappears for weeks at a time for work, Amaia finds herself having to manage on her own. Exhausted and at the end of her tether, she seeks refuge at her parents’ house where she hopes to find some support. But Begoña falls ill, and the family dynamics begin to change.
In her sensitive and direct debut feature film, director Alauda Ruiz de Azúa examines the special situation in which young parents find themselves and depicts the challenges this poses for their relationship; she also explores the topics of absent fathers and the cross-generational role that women play as carers. Thanks to a marvellous cast, Cinco lobitos takes an undiluted and intimate look at the emotions that exist within families – emotions that are at times oppressive and at others painfully absent.
by Alauda Ruiz de Azúa
with Laia Costa, Susi Sánchez, Ramón Barea, Mikel Bustamante
Spain 2022 Spanish, English, Basque 104’ Colour World premiere

With

  • Laia Costa (Amaia)
  • Susi Sánchez (Begoña)
  • Ramón Barea (Koldo)
  • Mikel Bustamante (Javi)

Crew

Written and Directed by Alauda Ruiz de Azúa
Cinematography Jon D. Domínguez
Editing Andrés Gil
Music Aránzazu Calleja
Sound Design Eva de la Fuente López
Sound Asier González
Production Design Mónica Ausin Seoane
Costumes Ana Martínez Fesser
Make-Up Ainhoa Eskisabel
Casting Flor González, Txabe Atxa
Assistant Director Martín Bustos
Production Manager María José Díez Álvarez
Producers Manu Calvo, Marisa Fernández Armenteros, Nahikari Ipiña
Executive Producers Manu Calvo, Marisa Fernández Armenteros, Sandra Hermida, Nahikari Ipiña

Alauda Ruiz de Azúa

Born in Barakaldo, Spain in 1978, she studied directing at the ECAM film school in Madrid. Since 2007, she has combined a career in directing commercials with more personal work in short films which have to date screened in over 400 Spanish and international festivals and won more than 100 awards. Cinco lobitos is her debut feature film.

Filmography

2005 Clases particulares (Private Lessons); short film 2007 Lo importante (The Main Thing); short film 2011 Dicen (They Say); short film 2014 Nena; short film 2021 No me da la vida (Up to My Neck); short film 2022 Cinco lobitos (Lullaby)

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2022