Writer-director Carla Simón uses her personal history as the foundation for "Romería," a drama that explores the intricate process of understanding lost family members. The film centers on Marina, a young woman on a solitary journey to piece together the lives of her parents.
Marina's quest is supported by some family members, including a cousin and an uncle who helps her grasp the extent to which her father was ostracized due to addiction and illness. However, her navigation of this emotionally complex territory is largely a personal mission, lending the film its quiet and restorative quality.
Simón was inspired to create "Romería" while working on her 2017 film "Summer 1993." The discovery of letters written by her mother brought her mother's voice to life, a sentiment echoed in "Romería" as Marina clings to her mother's journal. The protagonist revisits significant locations from her parents' lives, from the shoreline where they sailed to the boat cabin where they struggled with addiction, and the rooftop where they once basked in their youth.
The film incorporates elements of magical realism, notably through a mysterious tiger cat that guides Marina toward truths that humans cannot reveal. "Romería" is described as a dream memoir, blending the natural and mystical realms. Simón's cinematography captures the distinct landscapes of Galicia, featuring majestic beaches and sunlit waves. The film suggests that uncovering painful truths can lead to a profound sense of warmth, akin to the embrace of lost loved ones.