# Lullaby (2022 film)

Lullaby (Spanish: Cinco lobitos, lit. 'Five Wolf Cubs') is a 2022 Spanish drama film written and directed by Alauda Ruiz de Azúa. It stars Laia Costa and Susi Sánchez alongside Ramón Barea and Mikel Bustamante.

## Premise

After giving birth Amaia returns to her parents' home as her partner is away for some time.

## Cast

* Laia Costa as Amaia
* Mikel Bustamante [es] as Javi
* Susi Sánchez as Begoña
* Ramón Barea as Koldo

## Production

The project underwent development at the ECAM's incubator program. The film was produced by Encanta Films, Sayaka Producciones and BuenaPinta Media, and it had the participation of RTVE, EiTB and Orange and funding from ICAA, the Basque Government, the Madrid regional administration and Crea SGR. Shooting lasted for 5 weeks and it took place in between Madrid and Biscay (Mundaka and Bakio). In addition to Spanish, it also features Basque- and English-language dialogue.

## Release

The film had its world premiere in February 2022, screened as part of the 72nd Berlin International Film Festival's Panorama section. It also screened at the 25th Málaga Film Festival on 20 March 2022 as part of the festival's main competition. Distributed by BTeam Pictures, it was theatrically released in Spain on 20 May 2022.

## Reception
### Critical reception

According to the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, Lullaby has a 100% approval rating based on 16 reviews from critics, with an average rating of 8.1/10.
Jonathan Holland of ScreenDaily presented the film as an "absorbing mother-daughter drama set on the Basque coast", deeming it to be strongest "in the subtle and compassionate characterisation of its women".
Pere Vall of Fotogramas rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, highlighting the "absence of broad-brush" and the "duel/deal" between the "grandiose" Laia Costa and Susi Sánchez.
Irene Crespo of Cinemanía also gave it 4 out of 5 stars, summarizing the film as "a brilliant and emotional debut beyond motherhood" in her verdict.
Spanish film director Pedro Almodóvar called the film "undoubtedly the best debut in Spanish cinema for years", expressing the mother-daughter relationship as "a portrait of the role of women within the family, which is truthful, devoid of sentimentality and that does not exclude humor" and highlighting the performance of Laia Costa.
In August 2022, the members of the Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences of Spain selected Lullaby in their shortlist of three pre-selections for their submission to the 95th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film alongside Alcarràs and The Beasts.

### Top ten lists

The film appeared on a number of critics' top ten lists of the best Spanish films of 2022:
* 2nd — El Español ('Series&más' critics)
* 3rd — Vanity Fair (Juan Sanguino & Paloma Rando)
* 5th — Cadena SER ('El cine en la SER' critics)
* 5th — El Cultural (Begoña Donat)
* 5th — El Confidencial (Marta Medina)
* 6th — El Cultural (Carlos Heredero)
* 6th — ABC (Oti Rodríguez Marchante)
* 7th — El Mundo (Luis Martínez)
* 8th — El Cultural (Carlos Reviriego)
* 8th — El Cultural (Javier Yuste)
* 8th — El Periódico de Catalunya (critics)

### Accolades

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
| 2022 | 25th Málaga Film Festival | Golden Biznaga for Best Spanish Film | Golden Biznaga for Best Spanish Film | Won |
| 2022 | 25th Málaga Film Festival | Best Actress | Laia Costa & Susi Sánchez | Won |
| 2022 | 25th Málaga Film Festival | Best Screenplay | Alauda Ruiz de Azúa | Won |
| 2022 | 25th Málaga Film Festival | Audience Choice Award | Audience Choice Award | Won |
| 2022 | 28th Forqué Awards | Best Film | Best Film | Nominated |
| 2022 | 28th Forqué Awards | Best Film Actress | Laia Costa | Won |
| 2022 | 28th Forqué Awards | Best Film Actress | Susi Sánchez | Nominated |
| 2022 | 28th Forqué Awards | Cinema and Education in Values | Cinema and Education in Values | Won |
| 2023 | 15th Gaudí Awards | Best European Film | Best European Film | Won |
| 2023 | 10th Feroz Awards | Best Drama Film | Best Drama Film | Nominated |
| 2023 | 10th Feroz Awards | Best Director | Alauda Ruiz de Azúa | Nominated |
| 2023 | 10th Feroz Awards | Best Screenplay | Alauda Ruiz de Azúa | Won |
| 2023 | 10th Feroz Awards | Best Actress in a Film | Laia Costa | Won |
| 2023 | 10th Feroz Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Film | Susi Sánchez | Won |
| 2023 | 10th Feroz Awards | Best Supporting Actor in a Film | Ramón Barea | Nominated |
| 2023 | 10th Feroz Awards | Best Soundtrack | Aránzazu Calleja | Nominated |
| 2023 | 2nd Carmen Awards | Best Non-Andalusian Film | Best Non-Andalusian Film | Nominated |
| 2023 | 78th CEC Medals | Best Film | Best Film | Nominated |
| 2023 | 78th CEC Medals | Best New Director | Alauda Ruiz de Azúa | Won |
| 2023 | 78th CEC Medals | Best Actress | Laia Costa | Nominated |
| 2023 | 78th CEC Medals | Best Supporting Actress | Susi Sánchez | Won |
| 2023 | 78th CEC Medals | Best Supporting Actor | Ramón Barea | Nominated |
| 2023 | 78th CEC Medals | Best New Actor | Mikel Bustamante | Nominated |
| 2023 | 78th CEC Medals | Best Original Screenplay | Alauda Ruiz de Azúa | Nominated |
| 2023 | 78th CEC Medals | Best Cinematography | Jon D. Domínguez | Nominated |
| 2023 | 78th CEC Medals | Best Editing | Andrés Gil | Nominated |
| 2023 | 37th Goya Awards | Best Film | Best Film | Nominated |
| 2023 | 37th Goya Awards | Best New Director | Alauda Ruiz de Azúa | Won |
| 2023 | 37th Goya Awards | Best Original Screenplay | Alauda Ruiz de Azúa | Nominated |
| 2023 | 37th Goya Awards | Best Actress | Laia Costa | Won |
| 2023 | 37th Goya Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Susi Sánchez | Won |
| 2023 | 37th Goya Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Ramón Barea | Nominated |
| 2023 | 37th Goya Awards | Best New Actor | Mikel Bustamante | Nominated |
| 2023 | 37th Goya Awards | Best Cinematography | Jon D. Domínguez | Nominated |
| 2023 | 37th Goya Awards | Best Editing | Andrés Gil | Nominated |
| 2023 | 37th Goya Awards | Best Sound | Asier González, Eva de la Fuente López, Roberto Fernández | Nominated |
| 2023 | 37th Goya Awards | Best Production Supervision | María José Díez | Nominated |
| 2023 | 31st Actors and Actresses Union Awards | Best Film Actress in a Leading Role | Laia Costa | Won |
| 2023 | 31st Actors and Actresses Union Awards | Best Film Actress in a Secondary Role | Susi Sánchez | Won |
| 2023 | 31st Actors and Actresses Union Awards | Best Film Actor in a Minor Role | Ramón Barea | Won |
| 2023 | 31st Actors and Actresses Union Awards | Best New Actor | Mikel Bustamante | Nominated |
| 2023 | 10th Platino Awards | Best Actress | Laia Costa | Won |
| 2023 | 10th Platino Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Susi Sánchez | Won |
| 2023 | 10th Platino Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Ramón Barea | Nominated |
| 2023 | 10th Platino Awards | Best Original Score | Aránzazu Calleja | Nominated |
| 2023 | 10th Platino Awards | Best Ibero-American Debut Film | Best Ibero-American Debut Film | Nominated |
| 2023 | 10th Platino Awards | Cinema and Values Education | Cinema and Values Education | Nominated |