UMVA has learned that a Spanish drama, La Bola Negra, has taken the Cannes Film Festival by storm with a historic 20-minute standing ovation, injecting much-needed excitement into the event.
The film, starring Penélope Cruz and Glenn Close, has been hailed as a masterpiece and an instant classic, with critics rushing to social media to praise its achingly beautiful storytelling and intimate stories at its heart.
Directed by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, La Bola Negra is a massive undertaking that explores the interconnected lives of three gay men across 85 years, set against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War and infused with intellectually rigorous themes.
The film's epic scope and length demand attention, with a 155-minute runtime that meanders in places but ultimately rewards viewers with rich detail and gorgeously arranged shots by cinematographer Gris Jordana.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that La Bola Negra's narrative is woven across three separate timelines, set in 1932, 1937, and 2017, and features a predominantly male cast, including a striking scene where they strip off at the beach.
The movie's impact begins with a devastating opening scene, where a rural village is destroyed by Italian bombs and gunfire, and follows Sebastián, a young survivor conscripted into the army, as he befriends a wounded political prisoner.
La Bola Negra's storylines intersect and ultimately come together, remarkably, by the end, with standout performances from its cast, including Cruz and Close in their small but impactful supporting roles.
The film's bold approach to Spanish history and homosexuality, spanning nearly a century, makes it hard to resist, and while it may plod in places, its extraordinary cast keeps the story powered up.
La Bola Negra premiered at Cannes on May 21 and is set to be released in Spain on October 2, with UK and US release dates yet to be confirmed.
