28/06/2024 - We talk to the Spanish director about her Berlinale Crystal Bear-winning short film as it awaits more plaudits when it screens at EFP’s Future Frames in Karlovy Vary

Born in Barcelona, Lucía G Romero studied at the ESCAC, from which she graduated with a Master in Film Directing. Her graduation piece is Cura Sana, the story of Jessica, a 14-year-old girl who has dealt with her abusive father since she was a young girl. With said abuse causing Jessica to turn towards self-destruction, her relationship with her eight-year-old sister Alma is strained. When the siblings are forced to travel together to collect food stamps, they begin to learn that, to live a good life, both most treat each other with love. The energetic piece of work full of life and humanity has already struck a chord at festivals and won a Crystal Bear at the 2024 Berlinale. Cineuropa asked Romero about that experience and what it was like making the film as the director awaits its screening as part of EFP’s Future Frames at the 58th edition of Karlovy Vary (see the news).

Cineuropa: The story has been described as autobiographical. Is it difficult or liberating to commit such a tale to the big screen?
Lucía G Romero: For me, personally, it has been extremely liberating and healing to write and reflect on such major things about my life or my family’s lives. It’s opened up the door for conversation in my family and with the audience, and ultimately made me feel like I’m not alone. But of course, while you’re writing about things that are very close to your heart, sometimes it’s more difficult to separate yourself emotionally from the project and to put some distance between you and the character you’re writing or directing, so it was important for me to reflect on the themes of the film outside the creation process.

Working with youngsters can always pose a unique set of challenges. How did you go about casting your two young lead protagonists?
The casting process was very short because among the first 30 actresses we saw, we found the two of them. It was an online casting and a street casting, and they both joined online. Then we were lucky to have five or six months to get to know them with my acting coach Ana Barja and rehearse with them, while we became friends in the process.

The film has a kinetic feel and a real sense of energy thanks to the location. What was it like to film in places that seemed very chaotic and busy?
The city we mostly shot in, Hospitalet [in Barcelona], is one where life happens on the street. It was definitely a challenge to film (especially for the sound team), but some of the things we couldn’t control we included in the movie, and it ended up adding more life and realism to the short. I wanted to portray the type of neighbourhoods I used to hang out in during my childhood, which are very lively, stimulating and full of adventure.

Whilst the film is about the toll of abuse and the need to break the cycle of said abuse, it’s also about love and growing up. How important was it to you that the story would ultimately have a sense of hope and the possibility of redemption?
For me, love is the essence of the film. There are these two forces: fear and love. Fear of the violence and the abuse, which leads the sisters to treat each other with that same violence. But ultimately, love wins out, even in the face of adversity. It was important for me to end up with that ray of hope for viewers who might relate, and for myself. Hope and love are what have always kept me going and what have made me want to be a better person; the belief that there’s happiness.

How did it feel to win the Crystal Bear?
It felt surreal. This was my graduation film, so ending up at the Berlinale was already a huge shock and a blessing that we didn’t expect. We got to connect with amazing people and share our story with a lot of people, a lot of teenagers from different parts of the world who somehow connected with Cura Sana. It was very healing, and I’m forever grateful. The Crystal Bear was the cherry on top!

Do you know what you’re working on next?
Right now, I’m in the process of writing my first feature, which will be inspired by the characters of Cura Sana. I'm also editing my second short film, also produced by ESCAC, and writing two side projects in my spare time.