Magda, a divorcee, is diagnosed with breast cancer. She gets treatment and appears to make a full recovery, but then the cancer returns. Coping with the disease with humor and vivacity, she meets Arturo, her son's soccer team coach. Magda and Arturo soon grow close and before long she gets pregnant. She decides to give birth to the baby despite the objections of others. ma ma is an ode to motherhood. The film’s lead, played by Penelope Cruz, courageously seeks out love in spite of her life-threatening illness and, in a direct challenge to medical science, endeavors to create something that only a mother can: The miracle of life. The film not only presents a stark portrayal of the daily life of a cancer patient but also acquaints the audience with a character that exudes dignity and grace even as she struggles to overcome her grim fate. Julio Medem's latest work at BIFF follows screenings at the San Sebastian and Toronto International Film Festivals. (RHEE Soue-won)