Ma Ma (2015 film)

Ma Ma (Spanish: Ma ma) is a 2015 Spanish-French drama film directed by Julio Medem.^[1] It was screened in the Special Presentations section of the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival. The film follows Magda (Penélope Cruz), a Madrid teacher diagnosed with breast cancer, who forms a relationship with a soccer scout facing his own tragedy and decides to carry their child to term despite her terminal illness.

The story takes place in Spain from 2012 to 2013.^[2] Magda (Penélope Cruz) is an unemployed teacher living in Madrid with her young son, Dani. Her husband has recently left her for a younger woman, leaving her emotionally shaken. One day during a routine checkup, Magda discovers a lump in her breast. The biopsy confirms she has breast cancer. She tries to face the diagnosis bravely, focusing her energy on Dani, who is passionate about soccer.

At one of Dani’s matches, Magda meets Arturo, a talent scout for Real Madrid. That same day, Arturo receives terrible news: his wife and daughter have been in a car accident. His daughter later dies, and his wife remains comatose. Bonded by tragedy, Magda and Arturo form a close friendship that gradually becomes a romantic relationship.

Magda undergoes a mastectomy and chemotherapy. Despite the physical and emotional strain, she continues to care for Dani and support Arturo in his grief. Eventually, she learns that her cancer has spread and is terminal. Around the same time, she discovers she is pregnant with Arturo’s child. Although the pregnancy complicates her health further, Magda decides to carry the baby to term, believing it is a gift of life in the midst of her decline.

As her illness worsens, Magda prepares her family for her death. She insists on honesty with Dani and tries to fill his remaining time with her with warmth and courage. In the end, she gives birth to a daughter, whom she names Natasha. After the birth, Magda’s health rapidly deteriorates, and she dies shortly afterward.

The film closes with the image of her family left behind — devastated, but bound together by Magda’s love and sacrifice.

Allan Hunter of Screen Daily lauded the strong cast but lamented that the "schmaltzy script and uneven tone of the film conspire to upstage [Cruz's] performance and diminish our capacity to feel moved by it".^[3]

Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian rated the Ma Ma 4 out of 5 stars, declaring it "a gorgeous, heartfelt film".^[4]

Andy Webster of The New York Times lamented finding Cruz having to carry "a melodrama only glancing at profundity".^[5]

• List of Spanish films of 2015

• Ma Ma at IMDb
• Ma Ma at Rotten Tomatoes