Festivals: Sundays (2025) by Alauda Ruiz de Azúa – A Tender Portrait of Choice and Identity

Navigating Crossroads in Life and Career

Directed and written by Alauda Ruiz de Azúa, Sundays (Los Domingos) is a Spanish drama about Ainara, a young woman facing an important personal and professional crossroads. The film explores themes of self-discovery, family expectations, and the delicate tension between tradition and independence. Premiering to great acclaim, Sundays has already won 2 major awards, including the prestigious Golden Shell at the San Sebastián Film Festival, along with 2 additional nominations, cementing its place as one of the most anticipated Spanish dramas of the year.

Why to Watch This Movie – A Reflective and Poetic Drama

• Award-Winning Festival Darling – Its Golden Shell win at San Sebastián positions it as a must-watch for fans of international cinema. This recognition speaks to the film’s artistic quality and emotional depth.

• Alauda Ruiz de Azúa’s Visionary Direction – Following her celebrated debut Lullaby, Alauda returns with a deeply personal story, cementing her status as one of Spain’s most exciting new filmmakers.

• Nuanced Performances – Patricia López Arnaiz delivers a heartfelt portrayal of Ainara, supported by Miguel Garcés and Juan Minujín, making the emotional journey authentic and relatable.

• Universal Themes of Growth – The film resonates with anyone who has ever felt torn between familial duty and personal ambition. Its relatability makes it powerful and intimate.

• Atmospheric Cinematography – Capturing rural Spain with care, the visuals mirror Ainara’s inner struggles, blending quiet moments with bursts of emotional intensity.

Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35513027/

Link Review: https://www.screendaily.com/news/spanish-drama-sundays-wins-best-film-at-san-sebastian/5209391.article

About movie: https://le-pacte.com/international/film/sundays

Release date on streaming: Expected to stream on Filmin Spain and other European arthouse platforms by early 2026, allowing a wider international audience to discover it. Streaming availability will expand its reach far beyond Spain. For global cinephiles, this will provide easier access to Ruiz de Azúa’s work.

Theatrical Release: Premiering in Spain on October 17, 2025, followed by a European festival circuit and limited theatrical release in major cities. Theatrical showings will highlight its stunning cinematography on the big screen. This release strategy helps it build momentum among both critics and viewers.

What Trend is Followed? – Personal Growth Stories on the Big Screen

Sundays follows the recent trend of intimate character-driven dramas centered on women’s emotional journeys.

• Exploring Modern Identity – Films like Past Lives and Aftersun have similarly examined how personal history shapes choices, giving audiences quiet, introspective cinema. This wave of storytelling emphasizes subtle emotion rather than spectacle, focusing on the intricacies of human relationships. Sundays firmly positions itself within this growing international trend.

• Celebrating Female-Led Narratives – Part of a movement of films championing female protagonists’ complexity, emphasizing emotional honesty and internal conflict. These stories often prioritize inner transformation over external drama. By doing so, they invite audiences to reflect on their own experiences through the lens of female characters.

Director’s Vision – Alauda Ruiz de Azúa’s Quiet Power

• Human-Centered Storytelling – Ruiz de Azúa crafts nuanced, emotionally rich narratives, focusing on Ainara’s quiet transformation. Her stories often revolve around everyday experiences but are elevated by her poetic touch. This approach makes her characters universally relatable.

• Patience and Atmosphere – Uses long takes and intimate framing to let characters breathe and emotions unfold naturally. This deliberate pacing mirrors the slow but meaningful process of self-discovery. It also gives audiences time to absorb the emotional weight of each scene.

• Respect for Complexity – Refuses to simplify Ainara’s choices, allowing moral ambiguity and introspection to remain central. Life is rarely presented in neat resolutions, and Ruiz de Azúa honors that reality. Her refusal to offer easy answers is part of what makes her cinema so compelling.

• A Feminine Perspective – Brings an empathetic, nuanced portrayal of womanhood and family dynamics rarely seen with such care. Her perspective enriches the narrative, making it feel fresh and vital. The film benefits from her ability to approach sensitive themes with subtlety and grace.

Themes – Tradition, Selfhood, and Liberation

• Family Expectation vs. Independence – Ainara must balance her love for her family with the need to follow her own path. This creates constant tension between loyalty and self-fulfillment. It also highlights the universal challenge of growing beyond one’s roots.

• Coming-of-Age in Adulthood – Shows that self-discovery is not limited to youth, but a process that can arrive later in life. Ainara’s journey proves that new beginnings can happen at any age. This adds a refreshing perspective to the coming-of-age genre.

• Quiet Rebellion – The film celebrates small acts of defiance as powerful catalysts for personal freedom. Ainara’s choices might seem subtle, but they carry immense weight. These understated rebellions reveal the strength found in reclaiming one’s life.

• Emotional Honesty – Emphasizes facing uncomfortable truths about identity, love, and responsibility. The characters grapple with vulnerability in ways that are raw and real. This openness helps the film resonate with audiences seeking authenticity.

Key Success Factors – What Makes It Stand Out

• Critical Acclaim – Its awards and nominations have already put it on the radar of major festivals and cinephiles worldwide. This recognition ensures broader distribution opportunities. It also strengthens the director’s international reputation.

• Rich Character Development – Ainara’s inner struggle is deeply felt, making her journey moving and immersive. Every interaction contributes to her arc, revealing different layers of her identity. This layered storytelling keeps audiences emotionally invested.

• Beautifully Crafted Visuals – The cinematography elevates the emotional weight, turning setting into character. Rural Spain becomes a symbolic backdrop to Ainara’s transformation. The visuals enhance the story’s mood, blending naturalism with emotional symbolism.

• Cultural Authenticity – Offers a distinctly Spanish lens on universal dilemmas, adding layers of depth and local color. The film feels rooted in its place while still being accessible worldwide. This balance is what makes it powerful and far-reaching.

Awards & Nominations – Prestigious Recognition

Sundays has won 2 awards, including the Golden Shell at the San Sebastián Film Festival, and has been nominated for 2 more international honors. Critics have praised it as one of Spain’s strongest contributions to contemporary world cinema, highlighting its emotional impact and cultural significance.

Critics Reception – Praise for Emotional Depth

• Deadline – Highlighted the film as “a quiet triumph of character study” with Alauda Ruiz de Azúa’s “poetic yet piercing direction.” The review emphasized its subtlety and emotional payoff. Critics noted its balance of universal themes with a uniquely Spanish voice.

• Eye For Film – Called it “a deeply empathetic portrait of a woman in flux,” celebrating its subtlety and emotional payoff. They underlined how the director avoids clichés while still engaging audiences fully. This makes the film stand out as a festival favorite.

• Variety (Festival Coverage) – Commended its “delicate balance of family drama and personal journey” and compared Ruiz de Azúa’s approach to Mia Hansen-Løve’s reflective cinema. Variety also noted that its pacing rewards patient viewers. This positions the film in the tradition of thoughtful European arthouse cinema.Overall: Critics agree that Sundays is a beautifully understated yet emotionally resonant drama that rewards patience with a lasting impact. Its acclaim ensures a strong place among 2025’s most meaningful films.

Reviews – Audience and Festival Goers Speak

• Festival Audiences – Called it “moving, contemplative, and achingly real,” with many noting how personally connected they felt to Ainara’s struggles. The intimacy of the story resonated especially with younger viewers navigating similar crossroads. Audience reactions show its potential for wide emotional appeal.

• Cinephile Reviews – Appreciated the film’s pacing and slow-burn character development, saying it stays with you long after it ends. Many highlighted its emotional honesty and how the performances carried the narrative. The feedback confirms the film’s status as both moving and memorable.Overall: Viewers describe it as a “quiet masterpiece” that combines emotional vulnerability with artistic elegance. Its impact lies not in spectacle, but in truth and tenderness.

Movie Trend – Introspective Spanish Cinema

The film follows the growing trend of Spanish auteur dramas that explore generational conflict and female-led narratives, continuing the path of acclaimed titles like Alcarràs and Lullaby. This movement highlights Spain’s role in shaping global arthouse cinema. With Ruiz de Azúa, a new wave of voices is redefining the national cinematic identity.

Social Trend – Conversations on Autonomy and Career Choices

Touches on a wider cultural trend where millennials and Gen Z are openly questioning traditional life paths and pursuing purpose-driven careers despite societal pressure. The film reflects conversations happening worldwide about redefining success. Its themes mirror real-life struggles faced by younger generations today.

Final Verdict – A Soulful and Rewarding Watch

Sundays is a quietly powerful film that takes its time to explore Ainara’s emotional transformation with honesty and compassion. Perfect for fans of character-driven dramas and thoughtful European cinema, it’s a must-watch for anyone who loves introspection and slow-burn storytelling that pays off in emotional resonance. Its awards, themes, and artistry make it one of 2025’s defining works.