Abstract
Even though Basque director Alauda Ruiz de Azua’s debut film, Cinco lobitos, revolves around motherhood and its two female characters bear the heavyweight of the narrative, set in a historically perceived matriarchal society, such as the Basque Country, the two male supporting roles—that of the young father and the old grandfather of the newborn child—are critical to articulate the film’s underlying discourse on the complex and evolving relationships amongst the members of a family unit—whether it be the result of a traditional marriage (that of the grandparents) or a modern partnership (the young couple). Despite their age difference and distinct upbringing, the two male characters mirror each other in their embodiment of an emotionally absent life partner and paternal figure who prioritizes his role as a provider rather than a caregiver. Hence, intertwined with the struggles of maternity and its acute impact on women’s life choices, the portrayal of fatherhood in this film equally reflects on the evolution of the paternal role throughout a man’s life and in Basque society, while it evokes that the traditionally assigned gender roles echo across generations.
Published Version
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