Trailer for 'La bola negra' released; film tackles homophobia and war

'La bola negra', the new film by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi (Los Javis), has released its first trailer, offering a glimpse into a story inspired by an unfinished work of Federico García Lorca. The film intertwines the lives of three men across three eras (1932, 1937, and 2017), exploring themes of sexuality, desire, pain, and inheritance Source: abces.

Trailer highlights

The trailer, described as 'potent and poetic,' shows scenes of war and homophobia, with a voiceover stating, 'This country has too many love stories buried in the fields' Source: infobae (EFE). The film stars musician Guitarricadelafuente in his acting debut, alongside Miguel Bernardeau, Carlos González, and Milo Quifes, with Penélope Cruz and Glenn Close in supporting roles Source: cnn.

Critical acclaim and release

At the Cannes Film Festival, Los Javis won the Best Director award for 'La bola negra,' and the film received a standing ovation Source: infobae. Release dates vary slightly: in Spanish theaters, it opens September 25 (or September 26, according to different sources) Source: abces, cnn. It will debut in the US on November 6, and stream on Netflix there starting December 4 Source: cnn.

Themes and context

The film's title refers to a voting system in a casino where black balls signify rejection, which reflects the societal exclusion faced by homosexuals. Milo Quifes, one of the protagonists, explains that the story questions what one sacrifices 'to be or say who you are—or aren’t—really' Source: cnn.