Piety (film)
A toxic mother-son bond explored through horror and camp.
Piety, also known as La Pietà, is a 2022 Spanish-Argentine film directed and written by Eduardo Casanova. It stars Ángela Molina and Manel Llunell as Libertad and Mateo in a toxic mother-son relationship. The film has been variously billed as a drama, 'mother-son horror', and black comedy, and displays camp elements.
- Release year
- 2022
- Country
- Spain-Argentina
- Director
- Eduardo Casanova
- Lead actors
- Ángela Molina, Manel Llunell
- Genre
- Drama, mother-son horror, black comedy
- Runtime
- Not specified in article
- Language
- Spanish, Korean
Lore & Background
The film follows teenager Mateo and his mother Libertad, who live together in a mostly pink apartment. Libertad's overbearing behavior includes refusing separation in public, always sleeping together, and answering for Mateo when asked questions. After Mateo attempts to flee during a hospital examination, Libertad purposely injures his toenail. When Mateo later tries to escape, he collapses on the street and is diagnosed with a malignant glioblastoma. Despite brain surgery, his treatment makes him dependent on Libertad, who secretly welcomes his side effects and attempts to continue drugging him.
Reader's Guide
Piety premiered at the 56th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival on 3 July 2022 as part of the 'Proxima' lineup. It also screened at the 26th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, the Fantasia International Film Festival, Fantastic Fest, and the 55th Sitges Film Festival. The film was theatrically released in Spain on 13 January 2023. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 75% approval rating based on 8 reviews. Critics noted its 'upsettingly relevant and inherently queer message' and described it as 'tragicomic to an extreme' and 'gorgeously vulgar and shocking'.
Did You Know?
- Ana Belén was originally cast as Libertad but was replaced by Ángela Molina due to stage commitments.
- The film includes a subplot set in North Korea involving a high-ranking officer named Taeyang.
- Filming began on 27 September 2021, with locations in Madrid and Andalusia.
- The film was shot with dialogue in Spanish and Korean.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Piety (film)?
Piety (La Pietà) is a 2022 Spanish-Argentine co-production that weaves horror, dark comedy, and drama around a deeply dysfunctional mother-son dynamic. It was written and directed by Eduardo Casanova.
Who are the main characters in Piety (film)?
The story revolves around Libertad, portrayed by Ángela Molina, and her son Mateo, played by Manel Llunell. Their suffocating, toxic bond is the engine of the entire narrative.
What genre is Piety (film) classified as?
It resists a single label—Casanova frames it as a drama, while audiences and critics often call it 'mother-son horror' or black comedy. The film also leans into noticeable camp sensibilities throughout its runtime.
Who directed Piety (film) and what is its production origin?
Eduardo Casanova handled both the writing and the direction. The project is a 2022 co-production between Spain and Argentina.
Why do fans consider Piety (film) a standout in the Argentine horror space?
It treats a suffocating domestic bond as the real source of dread rather than relying on a supernatural antagonist, which sets it apart from more conventional genre entries. Its blend of camp, dark humor, and psychological tension gives it a distinctive voice in the subgenre.
More in Argentine horror films 1-23
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