Piety 2022

Life in the pink apartment

In Spain, Mateo lives with his mother Libertad in a predominantly pink apartment. Libertad's overbearing rules include never letting them be separated in public, always sleeping together, and answering for Mateo when questioned. Mateo grows increasingly aware of her suffocating control.

Hospital examination and escape attempt

During a hospital examination, Mateo tries to flee under Libertad's watch. Libertad asserts control even in medical settings, quelling his attempts to escape. The moment foreshadows the suffocating dynamic that defines their relationship.

Toenail injury at home

Back at home, Libertad trims Mateo and intentionally injures his toenail. The action underscores her insistence on domination, even through physical pain. Mateo bears the consequences of her control in silence.

Escape attempt and collapse

While Libertad sleeps, Mateo tries to escape, but suffers a severe headache and collapses on the street. The collapse exposes Mateo's vulnerability and foreshadows the looming illness. It ends with Libertad finding him and deciding what to do next.

Rescue and cancer diagnosis

Mateo is rescued by Libertad and taken to a hospital, where doctors diagnose malignant glioblastoma. The prognosis reframes their entire relationship as treatment becomes a long, arduous journey. The family braces for a grim future.

Tumor removal surgery

Brain surgery removes the tumor, offering a glimmer of hope but signaling that Mateo will face radiotherapy and long-term medication. Doctors outline a difficult treatment path ahead. Mateo begins confronting the reality of a life-changing illness.

First therapy session

Libertad and Mateo are offered the aid of psychologist Carolina López to cope with the illness. The session reveals tension as Libertad frequently answers for Mateo, hinting at her need to control. The therapist's presence marks a turning point in how they manage Mateo's condition.

Private session and Libertad's confession

In a private moment, Libertad reveals that her ex-husband Roberto abandoned her when Mateo was a baby. Carolina urges Libertad to allow Mateo to pursue independence, even as Libertad fears abandonment. The scene deepens the conflict between protection and autonomy.

Labors of care: treatment embraced

Despite fears, Libertad secretly welcomes Mateo's radiotherapy and medications, hoping the side effects will tie him more closely to her. She endures the physical toll as the relationship becomes more dependent. The dynamic shifts toward a consuming care-giver role.

Secret drugging and discovery

Mateo regains strength after a break from therapy, prompting Libertad to resume secretly dosing him. Mateo discovers the secret, confronting the boundaries of his mother's care. The breach intensifies the struggle between protection and autonomy.

Taeyang's brutal escape and Seoul dinner

In Pyongyang, Taeyang orders the execution of his two daughters before fleeing with Cheong. Later, in Seoul, they discuss their precarious life, and Cheong reveals she would not have escaped without his pills. The sequence mirrors how control and despair can shape a family's fate.

Roberto's crisis and Mateo's visit

Back in Spain, Marta informs Libertad that Roberto has attempted suicide after their separation. Mateo is brought to Roberto's home by Carolina and meets his father, who acknowledges their mutual reliance on Libertad. Marta offers Mateo to stay, but he declines.

Libertad's suicide attempt and hospital reunion

Mateo and Libertad confront a shared crisis as Libertad attempts suicide, and mother and son reunite in tears at the hospital. The bond between them is forced to confront its own fragility. Guilt and fear mix with a desperate desire to protect one another.

Shaving heads and taking the meds

Overcome with guilt, Libertad shaves her head to resemble Mateo and begins taking his medication, damaging her own health in the process. Her illness mirrors Mateo's, deepening their bonding through mutual vulnerability. The act highlights how far the care-giving dynamic has gone.