The Good Daughter (film)

After the separation of her parents, Carmela lives with her mother and grandmother while yearning for spending more time with her father, a plastic artist she idolises.^[3]

• Kiara Arancibia as Carmela^[4]
• Janet Novás [es] as Carmela's mother^[4]
• Petra Martínez as Carmela's grandmother^[4]
• Julián Villagrán as Carmela's father^[4]

Based on Júlia de Paz's short film Harta (2021), the project was known under the working title of Harta during the production stage.^[5] The feature only saw the return of actor Julián Villagrán from the short film's cast.^[6] De Paz stated that Close (2022) was also a clear inspiration for the film in its portrayal of luminous and resilience moments with children.^[7][4] The film is an Astra Pictures, Avalon, and Krater Films co-production with backing from ICAA, ICEC [ca], Eurimages, RTVE, TV3, and Movistar+.^[8][9] Shooting locations included Sant Cugat del Vallès.^[8]

The Good Daughter had its world premiere in the main competition of the 29th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) in November 2025.^[9][10] It was also programmed in the 'International Competition' section of the 49th Göteborg Film Festival.^[11] The film was presented in the official selection of the 29th Málaga Film Festival on 12 March 2026.^[12] Avalon distributes the film in Spain, with a tentative theatrical release scheduled for 10 April 2026.^[5][9][13] Beta Cinema took over handling of international sales.^[5]

Wendy Ide, senior international critic of ScreenDaily, deemed the film to be an "assured and sensitively handled work", showcasing Júlia de Paz's "nuanced writing and skill in working with young actors".^[14]

Mariana Hristova of Cineuropa considered that, with the film, the director proved again "her knack for extracting the singular from stories that seem everyday and banal, and for bringing to light a sensitivity to the silent catastrophe that cuts deeper than meets the eye".^[15]

Andrea G. Bermejo of Cinemanía rated the film, her favourite so far in 2026, 4 out of 5 stars, lauding Villagrán's character, "at last, a character full of nuance, deeply complex and a match for his talent".^[16]

Juan Pando [es] of Fotogramas rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, assessing that De Paz delivers "a calm, unhurried, profound film, without resorting to easy solutions", featuring a "colossal" Arancibia and a "splendid" supporting cast, particularly Villagrán.^[17]

Javier Ocaña of El País deemed the film to be a "sincere and balanced" work in which the director "deploys an arsenal of highly nuanced techniques", only missing perhaps more exposition about the underlying legal case presumably involving a restraining order and supervised visits.^[18]

Manuel J. Lombardo of Diario de Sevilla gave the film a 3-star rating, declaring it "a complex and nuanced portrayal of the processes of separation and personal growth experienced by children", without descending into propaganda, "which is no small feat".^[19]