Carla Simón's film 'Romería' explores silence and family secrets in post-Franco Spain

Carla Simón's latest film 'Romería' examines the theme of silence in Spanish narrative traditions, focusing on family secrets and their connection to political power. The work is part of Simón's autofictional filmmaking approach, which addresses concealed familial matters while depicting societal conditions in the period following Francisco Franco's dictatorship. The film portrays a generation that, after enduring widespread oppression, became victims of newfound freedom, with characters noting deaths from causes like traffic accidents, drug overdoses, and AIDS, often occurring behind closed doors. This narrative aligns with a broader artistic lineage in Spain, where silence about identity conflicts, state crimes, and mortality is poetically and painfully breached, as seen in works by figures such as Miguel de Cervantes, Federico García Lorca, and Carlos Saura. The film underscores how familial silences mirror political authority, contributing to a critique of post-authoritarian society. Released in 2026, 'Romería' continues Simón's exploration of personal and historical memory, offering insights into Spain's cultural and social evolution.