A brand new trailer has dropped for ‘Forastera’ which is set to make it’s debut on May 29th.
In the sun-drenched landscapes of Mallorca, where the Mediterranean waves meet the rugged coastline, a new cinematic voice has emerged to explore the intricate, often ghostly layers of family grief. The Hollywood Reporter recently highlighted the arrival of the trailer for Forastera, the highly anticipated feature debut from Spanish writer-director Lucía Aleñar Iglesias. Based on her acclaimed 2020 short film of the same name, Forastera (which translates to “stranger” or “outsider”) is far more than a standard coming-of-age drama; it is a haunting, psychological exploration of how we project the identities of the deceased onto the living.
The film follows Cata (portrayed by Zoe Stein), a teenager spending a seemingly idyllic summer at her grandparents’ home on the coast of Mallorca. Alongside her younger sister Eva, Cata’s days are filled with the hazy, slow-motion activities of a Mediterranean vacation: bike rides, swimming, and the quiet comfort of family routines. However, this tranquility is shattered when the family matriarch, Catalina (Marta Angelat), unexpectedly collapses and dies. The tragedy leaves a vacuum in the household—one that Cata feels an almost magnetic pull to fill.
In her grief, Cata begins a subtle, unsettling transformation. She starts wearing her grandmother’s vintage clothes, mimicking her mannerisms, and assuming her domestic roles, such as sewing and mediating family conflicts. This isn’t a supernatural possession in the traditional horror sense, but rather a psychological “merging.” As Aleñar Iglesias explains, the film explores the “magical thinking” that occurs during mourning. Cata isn’t literally becoming her grandmother, but she is adopting a persona that provides comfort to her grieving grandfather, Tomeu (Lluís Homar), while creating a growing friction with her mother, Pepa (Núria Prims).
The director, who developed the project through the prestigious Cannes Cinéfondation Residency and the Next Step program, brings a deeply personal perspective to the narrative. Having spent her own childhood summers in Mallorca, Aleñar Iglesias utilizes the island’s unique atmosphere—not as a postcard-perfect tourist destination, but as a place of memory and “forasteros” (foreigners). The title itself reflects this sense of alienation; even those with deep roots in the island can feel like outsiders when the structures of their family life begin to crumble.
Visually, Forastera promises a sensory experience. The trailer showcases the film’s use of natural light and the evocative, sun-bleached interiors of the family home. The cinematography by Agnès Piqué captures the contrast between the vibrant exterior world and the stagnant, shadow-filled spaces where grief resides. The score, a collaboration between Filip Leyman and Anna von Hausswolff, adds an unsettling, almost thriller-like tension to the proceedings, emphasizing that while the tragedy is grounded in reality, the emotional response is something much more ethereal.
Central to the film’s success is the performance of Zoe Stein. Having also starred in the original short, Stein brings a nuanced maturity to the role of Cata. She navigates the character’s descent into her grandmother’s identity with a quiet intensity, making the audience question where the teenager ends and the matriarch begins. Her chemistry with veteran actor Lluís Homar is particularly poignant, as their characters engage in a delicate dance of mutual delusion, using one another to keep the memory of the deceased woman alive.
Forastera premiered in the Discovery section of the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, where it was met with critical acclaim and earned the FIPRESCI Prize. Critics have praised Aleñar Iglesias for her “surefooted” direction and her ability to subvert the tropes of the summer coming-of-age genre. By blending social realism with “brushes of horror,” she has created a debut that feels both classic and refreshingly modern.
As the film prepares for its wider release, it stands as a testament to the rising tide of female-led Spanish cinema. Much like the works of Carla Simón (Alcarràs), Aleñar Iglesias focuses on the specificities of family life and the weight of heritage. However, her unique obsession with “presence through absence” and the fluid nature of identity ensures that Forastera will linger in the minds of viewers long after the summer sun has set. For those seeking a film that explores the profound and often strange ways we say goodbye, Forastera is a journey worth taking.
