Does true love never really die? In the Spanish Short Film ‘Mai’, three old women ruminate on love, adolescence, and society while two mysterious young girls stroll and lounge in the countryside.
In the title sequence, two beautiful young girls are seen walking down the road.
Voices are heard in the background, contemplating about the age of the girls, saying that they must be 20 or 25 or younger. In the next scene, the source is revealed. Three old women are sitting on a park bench. Pilar, who is wearing a pretty green dress, replies that she doesn’t think the girls are that old while Mari with her bright white shoes says that age doesn’t matter anyway. Carmeta whose red locks differ from her peers stays silent as she keeps her gaze straight. It is a normal day for the three old women who are chitchatting about their lives. An unseen motorcycle rider comes by breaking their conversation. They bid the person goodbye.
The screen cuts to the two girls now lying on the grass field. The first girl has short ginger hair that is a stark contrast to her light skin. The other is a brunette whose hair shines under the Spanish summer air. The two are young, and beautiful, with years ahead of them. They are the exact opposite of the women on the bench. The brunette starts playfully touching and brushing her hair to her friend’s arm. This endears the ginger and starts laughing with her friend. They lay on the grass, exchanging sweet looks no one can judge.
The three old women are back on the screen revealing little by little their assumptions about the girls. Carmeta thinks that based on their accent, clothes, and their mysterious origin, they are from Barcelona. Mari says she doesn’t think so but Carmeta butts in and replies that she thinks of this because the girls love the countryside.
Pilar replies that villages are the place to be for the young people of their town. Mari, on the other hand, sarcastically says that she’d like to know why they like the place so much. There is a visible tension growing between the three ladies regarding the topic of their conversation.
The girls are seen again riding their bikes in the beautiful and serene countryside. The ginger’s hat flies away. The brunette gets off her bicycle and catches it for her. She puts it back carefully on her friend’s head as they share a loving look.
Back at the bench, Mari insists that what the two girls are doing is shameful. Pilar, who is visibly uncomfortable, reprimands her. Carmeta asks what is not normal between the two girls to which Mari insists that Carmeta knows already the obvious things that they do. Mari adds that the men are chasing the girls like fools. Carmeta sighs in disbelief at what she’s hearing but Mari who is still firm about her stance only replies that Carmeta should be thankful that she is a widow and that her husband is not after the young girls like the others. Carmeta does not reply while Pilar wishes that the man rest in peace. Another unseen biker passes and the women greet them too. But Mari is not done, saying that things like this with the young girls didn’t happen before.
