Spanish director Aina Clotet unveiled her debut feature, 'Viva,' at the Cannes Film Festival's Semaine de la Critique on May 15, 2026. The film centers on Nora, a 40-year-old scientist who, after surviving breast cancer, embarks on an impulsive and passionate love affair with a much younger man named Max.
Clotet, who also stars as Nora, described the protagonist as a contemporary woman with "many lights and many shadows, erratic." She explained to AFP that the film aims to tell the story of a woman seeking her own inner strength, portraying her as an "anti-heroine" reflecting the complexities of modern women.
The narrative unfolds in Catalonia during a severe drought, a setting that Clotet believes amplifies Nora's desire to "escape a world that is suffocating her." The film's title, 'Viva,' encapsulates Nora's profound "thirst for life" in a world that feels overwhelming.
Despite delving into serious subjects such as loneliness, illness, and mental health, Clotet intentionally employs humor as a tool to approach these complex issues. "Humor is the wisest and best way for us to approach the most complex topics," she stated.
'Viva,' which also features actors Willy Toledo and Lloll Bertran, is among several Spanish productions featured at this year's Cannes Festival, highlighting the growing presence of new Iberian narratives on the international stage. The film's themes of personal reinvention and the search for vitality resonate with its portrayal of a woman embracing life with renewed intensity.