Valentina Maurel's 'Ton Animal Maternel' Premieres at Cannes 2026

Valentina Maurel's film 'Ton Animal Maternel' premiered in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. The Franco-Costa Rican director's work follows Elsa, a 27-year-old returning to Costa Rica after anthropology studies in Belgium, to care for her sister Amalia, who is increasingly absorbed in esotericism. The family dynamic is fragile: parents divorced, mother republished a book of erotic poems, father dating a woman his daughter's age, and Amalia living in the old family home with her dog and marginal friends. The film explores themes of ghosts, maternity, and finding one's path, with a camera that moves through landscapes and domestic spaces. Maurel, who recently had a daughter, reflects on reconciling motherhood with an artistic career. The film is described as complex, enigmatic, and unpredictable, drawing comparisons to Claire Denis and Catherine Breillat.