'Cuidadoras' Review: A Documentary That Finds Grace in Unexpected Bonds
- 12 minutes ago
- 3 min read
By Romey Norton - April 10, 2026
There’s a gentle, disarming quality to Cuidadoras, the latest documentary from directors Martina Matzkin and Gabriela Uassouf, which makes its selection at the True/False Film Fest feel very fitting. This Spanish documentary film is patient, empathetic, and wonderfully heartfelt.
At its centre are Maia, Yenifer, and Luciana, three transgender women who begin working as caregivers in a nursing home, stepping into a routine that is, at first, unfamiliar and demanding. The film leans into the everyday rhythms of the job: assisting residents, managing small crises, and sharing simple moments of silence or laughter. It’s in these seemingly ordinary interactions that Cuidadoras finds its emotional core.
Early on, the distance between the caregivers and the residents is palpable. There’s a hesitancy on both sides, uncertainty, perhaps even quiet judgment. But as the film progresses, those barriers begin to soften. Conversations deepen, gestures become more natural, and a sense of mutual understanding starts to emerge.
The film’s strength lies in how it draws parallels between its subjects without forcing them. Maia, Yenifer, and Luciana each carry their own histories; stories of identity, resilience, and, at times, marginalisation. The elderly residents, too, exist in a space often defined by invisibility, navigating the realities of ageing in an environment that can feel both supportive and isolating. Cuidadoras gently highlights these shared experiences, suggesting that connection can be found in the most unexpected places.
There’s a lightness to the film’s tone that keeps it from becoming overly heavy, even as it touches on complex themes. This is through how the film is shot. The documentary adopts a straightforward, unobtrusive style. This approach reinforces the film’s sense of intimacy, allowing viewers to feel as though they are part of the space rather than outside observers looking in. The shots are intimate; we watch people draw, do their stretches, watch TV, eat, play games, have their nails done, and we see inside their simple bedrooms. It can come across as a very mundane and vulnerable existence, which is why who your caregivers are in your old age is so important.
Cuidadoras can feel restrained. Some viewers may find themselves wanting a deeper exploration of the caregivers’ lives outside of the nursing home, or a more explicit engagement with the broader social contexts that shape their experiences. The film hints at these layers but doesn’t always fully unpack them. Because of this, the overall arc and point of the documentary can be confusing. Is it an investigative piece into the care system, is it a fly-on-the-wall style, or is it a personal passion project showing three women's day-to-day jobs? Probably a mixture of all three. It’s charming, but it does lack a certain focus.
Ultimately, Cuidadoras is a documentary film about care in its many forms. It’s about the practical, often overlooked labour of looking after others, but also about the emotional reciprocity that can develop in those relationships. The caregivers provide support to the residents, certainly, but they also receive something in return: a sense of belonging, of recognition, of shared humanity and acceptance. And that is a lovely thing to see.
It’s deeply moving, honest, and not trying hard to provoke its viewers. It’s about how connections are formed, sometimes slowly, sometimes unexpectedly, but always with the potential to transform those involved. It’s a modest film in many ways, but one that leaves a lasting impression through its warmth and quiet insight. With a respectable runtime of 80 minutes, this is a must-watch for documentary fans and fans of the real-life lived experience.
'Cuidadoras' has been selected for the True/False Film Fest.
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