Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi build a brilliant, tender epic on an unfinished Lorca play, of thwarted gay desire in 1930s Spain.

In 2017, historian Alberto gets a sudden inheritance including the great writer’s lost pages, while in 1937 young Sebastián becomes enmeshed in the Civil War, discovering an astonishing new world of feeling. In both the past and the story, forbidden love grows, struggles, and asserts itself against historical oblivion – and through them, greater connection and understanding appears in the present.

Jointly awarded Best Director at Cannes, Calvo and Ambrossi conjure a passionate, endlessly creative vision of a buried gay past, determined to keep its spirit alive through humour, cinematic panache, and sheer quasi-melodramatic feeling – leaving an unforgettable emotional impact. Singer-songwriter Guitarricadelafuente stands out as the conflicted lead, as does Penélope Cruz as an explosive cabaret singer.