Tierra firme 2017 Movie Review

『A Warm Coming-of-Age Drama About Love and Courage Amid Imperfection』

🎥 Film Overview

🎬 Title: Tierra firme (Anchor and Hope, 2017)
🌍 Country: 🇪🇸 Spain / 🇬🇧 UK
🎞️ Genre: Comedy / Drama / Romance
🗓️ Production and Release: Spain-UK Co-production
📢 Director: Carlos Marques-Marcet
🖋️ Screenplay: Carlos Marques-Marcet, Jules Nurrish
📖 Based on: María Llopis, Maternidades subversivas (2015)

👩‍💼 Cast: Oona Chaplin – Eva
Natalia Tena – Kat

🧩 Story Deep Dive (Spoilers)

🚤 Between 'Anchor and Hope' on the London Canals

The title Anchor and Hope embodies the dual concepts of Anchor and Hope, reflecting both the relationship of Eva and Kat and the lifestyle they have chosen.

• Freedom and Fluidity (The Boat Life): Eva and Kat share a free-spirited, bohemian lifestyle aboard a narrow, converted barge on the London canals. The boat symbolizes their fluid, unconventional relationship and expresses the sense of being 'unanchored' in pursuit of freedom.

• The Beginning of Crisis: Motherhood and Reality: Their peaceful life begins to fracture after the death of Kat’s cat “Chorizo” and Eva’s strong desire for a child. Eva issues an ultimatum, insisting she wants to become a mother, which reveals the fundamentally different visions the two women hold for their future.

🤝 The Arrival of the “Third Element”: Roger and the Breaking of Tradition

To have a child, Eva suggests asking Roger, Kat’s best friend from Barcelona, to donate sperm. Roger’s arrival introduces a “third element” into their relationship, creating new tensions and dynamics.

• Clash of Visions: Roger unexpectedly embraces the idea of co-parenting, but Eva, who wanted the child most, becomes disappointed with Kat’s lukewarm attitude. Meanwhile, Kat, who longed for freedom, feels alienated as Roger’s active involvement leaves her sidelined as the 'third wheel.'

• Raising Real Questions: Their DIY sperm donation and co-parenting plan raise questions about LGBTQ+ family structures, while also portraying the emotional and spatial difficulties faced by non-traditional families without blood ties. The confined space of the boat intensifies the psychological pressure among the three.

💔 Climax: Loss and the Stripping Away of Truth

The story reaches its climax with Eva’s unexpected miscarriage.

• An Explosion of Emotion: The miscarriage is more than a tragedy—it exposes the fundamental cracks between Eva and Kat that they had tried to cover up with the prospect of a child. Eva suffers from the loss of motherhood, while Kat feels both relieved of unwanted responsibility and devastated by the possible loss of her friend.

• Kat’s Immaturity vs. Eva’s Strength: The film does not portray either woman as the villain. Kat reveals immaturity in her refusal to give up her free-spirited lifestyle, while Eva demonstrates strength (or selfishness) in forcing ultimatums to pursue her desires. Both act selfishly in their own ways, adding to the complexity and realism of their relationship.

🌱 An Ambiguous Ending and a New Beginning

Tierra firme closes with Eva and Kat ultimately separating, while Roger prepares to return to Barcelona, ending on a semi-open note.

• The Meaning of “I don’t know”: When Kat asks about their future, Eva replies, “I don’t know.” This response signals that their relationship is not definitively over but left in a state of uncertainty. Like the flowing canals, life remains in constant flux rather than resolving neatly into happiness or tragedy.

• A Realistic LGBTQ+ Narrative: The film avoids reducing the lesbian couple’s story to genre clichés, instead addressing universal issues such as marriage, parenthood, responsibility, and identity. It emphasizes the sobering truth that “love alone is not enough” and highlights the importance of growth and communication in sustaining relationships.

📚 With its unique canal setting in London and the strong performances of Oona Chaplin and Natalia Tena, the film leaves viewers with a lingering sense of reflection and emotional weight.

🎯 Personal Rating

💕 Love Scene Intensity: ♥♥♥
⭐ Rating: ★★★★