People who make films have experienced life in ways that can influence the stories they tell. Director, Writer, and Cast Member Hernán Jiménez has chosen to do so with his recent project, Abril. At a young age, his parents divorced, which made his father, who was rarely there, the hero, and his mother, who put her life on pause to raise him, the “enemy”. In today’s world of divided families, this is not uncommon. As children get older, they often re-evaluate and, with additional information, see things differently. Jiménez asked himself, “. . . if we’re all so acutely aware of this narrative and its glaring injustice, why aren’t there more stories about it?”
This is the story of a mother (Maricarmen Merino) who has put her child first since she discovered she was expecting. She works as a social worker and does what she can to provide for her daughter. Her daughter (Lara Yuja Mora), now a teenager, tells her mother she is leaving to go live with her Dad (Hernán Jiménez). With encouragement from others Abril is starting to realize she has needs and wants as well. After meeting Gabriel (François Arnaud) she opens herself to the possibility of a relationship.
This is a slower-paced movie; I wasn’t checking my watch as much as I felt like I was in the last few minutes of school before summer break. With slice-of-life pieces, I don’t expect the same pacing as an action film; this was on the slower side of what I was expecting.
There were a few plot points that either should have been left out or explored further. At one point, Gabriel asks for her credit card instead of cash to go buy snacks. That he couldn’t fully afford was logical; the insistence on using a credit card over cash was a red flag that was left hanging. Was he going to take money from her? Was he taking advantage? If there was no nefarious purpose, why not just accept the cash or have her offer the credit card in the first place? Another is the ex-husband’s career. He had money and was recognized when out. Was he an athlete, a media personality, or a writer? In a scene with a fan, this could have been elaborated on, or at his home, a poster of him on the wall for his profession would have helped.
The development of Abril and all the emotions she was going through were clear with Merino’s performance. Her actions and tone helped me follow the story while reading the subtitles. There are moments in life that it doesn’t matter where you live, everyone can experience them. Being able to portray these emotions and coming across as natural takes time, dedication, and talent. (Which Merino has.)
If you are looking for a glimpse at the life of a single mother in Costa Rico, find a showing of Abril and go see it for yourself.
Director: Hernán Jiménez
Cast: François Arnaud, Hernán Jiménez, Maricarmen Merino
Language: Spanish with English subtitles
Selig Rating: 3 stars
Runtime: 1h 45m
Release Date: February 7, 2026
Genre(s): Comedy, Drama
Trailer: Abril trailer
The Selig Rating Scale:
5 Stars – Excellent movie/show, well worth the time and price.
4 Stars – Good movie/show
3 Stars – OK movie/show
2 Stars – Well, there was nothing else…
1 Star – Total waste of time.