Summer 1993

Frida leaves Barcelona to live with her adoptive parents, Marga and Esteve, in a quiet countryside home. The new rhythm is intimate and tense, framed by small rituals that tether Frida to memories of her mother. Her sense of belonging is fragile as she navigates the unfamiliar landscape around her.

Frida discovers a Virgin Mary statue tucked away in a dirt-cleared space in the woods, a recurring motif that anchors her sense of a mother present in absence. She returns to the clearing often, leaving offerings such as cigarettes and a polka-dotted garment for a mother she barely remembers. The statue becomes a touchstone for Frida's memory and longing.

In a meat shop, Marga hints at Frida's mother's frail health, suggesting pneumonia without confirming it. The implication casts a shadow over the family's daily rhythm and foreshadows illness that tests the household's sense of safety. The moment seeds an undercurrent of fragility that threads through their days.

A visit to the doctor follows, with talk of more tests to confirm earlier results. The prospect of medical scrutiny casts a pall over Frida's growing sense of safety and routine. The adults discuss worry in a way that permeates the home, heightening the sense of uncertainty.

Back home, Frida and Anna slip into play, experimenting with makeup and a fur boa while the mood remains unsettled. Their pretend game shifts toward mother and child, though Frida resists when Anna asks her to join in, citing that she’s sore. The scene closes with Frida praying over her mother’s communion card, grounding her in memory as the present demands attention.

Frida meets Irene, a classmate whose answers come with movement away from Frida, signaling evolving social dynamics. Irene’s distancing adds a layer of complexity to Frida’s sense of belonging. Marga intervenes, guiding the interaction and highlighting the adults’ role in shaping boundaries among children.

Avi and Àvia visit, reframing the family’s expectations and reintroducing the memory of Frida’s mother. Lola appears later, offering a softer, more maternal presence that contrasts with frictions at home. The visit deepens Frida’s sense of belonging while reminding her of the complexities of family history.

That night, Anna dances with Esteve, marking a moment of tenderness shadowed by Frida’s growing sense of isolation. Frida watches the closeness around them, which intensifies her feeling of being on the outside. The domestic warmth around her becomes a source of quiet tension.

The next day, Frida leads Anna into the forest and asks her to hide, but the game goes awry when Anna returns with a cast on her arm. Adults debate boundaries while Esteve defends Frida, agreeing to set firmer limits. The incident sharpens questions about care, culpability, and the boundaries of Frida’s autonomy.

As days pass, Frida asks to go swimming, but Esteve momentarily delays, underscoring the ongoing pull between care and autonomy. The family’s routines continue, while a quiet unease about Frida’s behavior lingers in the background. This small request becomes another measure of parental control and Frida’s desire for freedom.

During a family visit, Frida expresses a wish for Lola to stay, and Esteve must physically remove Frida from the car, signaling a painful separation and the fragility of security she seeks. The moment crystallizes the growing distance between Frida and the adults who care for her. The car becomes a liminal space where boundaries and affection are negotiated.

That night, Frida packs dolls and toys and contemplates leaving, even handing Anna her Barbie as she laments a sense that she is unloved at home. She hides behind the house as night falls, contemplating a departure that is ultimately postponed to another day. The moment captures the ache of belonging and the lure of escape.

While preparing her math book for school, Frida asks about her mother’s death, and Marga explains that a virus caused the illness and that doctors tried their best. The absence of last words is acknowledged with quiet honesty, and Frida asks if Marga herself might fall ill, receiving a reassuring no. The moment ties memory to illness and vulnerability within the family’s narrative.

Esteve, Anna, and Frida lie together on a bed in new nightgowns, sharing a fragile moment of closeness that is interrupted by Frida’s sudden sobs. The adults gather to soothe her, underscoring both the tenderness and fragility of their bonds. The camera lingers on the bed, returning to memory and the enduring, uncertain hope of their future together.