1971, Francoist Spain. In the Galician countryside María assists women in childbirth. After an attempt to help a young woman in trouble, she suddenly has to hide from the authorities, leave everything behind and flee the country. On her perilous journey to Portugal via an old smugglers’ route María encounters female solidarity and realizes that she is not alone and that, thanks to the help of others, she might finally find her freedom.

This is the synopsis of The Rye Horn [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
intervista: Jaione Camborda
scheda film], the second film by Spanish director Jaione Camborda. The film has been selected for both the Platform competition of the Toronto International Film Festival (spooling from 7 to 17 September) and the Golden Shell competition of the upcoming San Sebastián International Film Festival (spooling from 22 to 30 September).

In the words of the director, "The Rye Horn is named after the 'rye horn', a fungus that could be found in the rye ears and which was widely used in Galicia because of its strong active substance. With it, women used to prepare an infusion that eased natural birth and, occasionally, that could be used in induced abortions. The film takes place in the late Francoism period in the 1970s, during which abortion was not legal and this placed women in a complex and clandestine space, and is born out the need to explore the relation between our body and our decisions, and the innate ability that women have to conceive and give birth."

The Rye Horn is a Spain-Portugal-Belgium co-production, steered by Spain's Esnatu Zinema, Miramemira and Elastica Films, with co-production from Portugal's Bando À Parte and Belgium's Bulletproof Cupid. Films Boutique is handling international sales.

Check out our exclusive clip below: