This debut feature is a testament to the impact of restrained filmmaking, with a pitch-perfect portrait of the growing pains of an 11-year-old girl. Expertly played in the young actress Arias’ screen debut, Alba has to come to terms with a terminally ill beloved mother, a strange and estranged father, and all the usual petty bullying and social complexities of adolescence. Drawing you in without relying on a soaring soundtrack to tug the heartstrings, this tender film is bound to touch your emotions as you follow her path towards a greater level of personal strength and maturity.