Àma Gloria

Paris, present day. Vivacious, personable young Cléo (extraordinary newcomer Louise Mauroy-Panzani) lives with her widowed father (Arnaud Rebotini), but has mostly been raised by her beloved Cape Verdean carer, Gloria (Ilça Moreno Zego), in whose comforting arms she finds refuge and emotional stability. So when Gloria’s mother passes away – a life-changing blow for both of them – Gloria must return to her homeland to care for her own children. To ease the anguish of the impending separation, Gloria invites Cléo to her island community to spend one last summer together… There, the young girl will discover an entirely different culture and a new family, and must learn to understand that the world does not revolve around her.

From the producers of Celine Sciamma’s Petite Maman and Portrait of a Lady on Fire, ÀMA GLORIA exquisitely captures themes of family, separation and the ties that bind people together from the point of view of its capricious young protagonist. A natural in front of the camera,  Mauroy-Panzani conveys every element of joy, sadness, bravery and regret that Cléo experiences as she confronts seismic change. Her beguiling performance is this deeply moving film's beating heart.