People are defined both by who they are and who they need to be in the environments in which they exist. Throughout history, attraction to the same sex has largely been condemned by mainstream society and criminalized alongside unpopular political affiliations. La Bola Negra is an immersive epic that follows three separate protagonists who share a sexual orientation and see that critical part of their identity highly influencing the course of their lives as they are forced to conform to – and selectively rebel against – what their time says is acceptable and will allow.
Sebastián (Guitarricadelafuente) finds his town decimated in 1937 and becomes a reluctant soldier in the fascist army. When Rafael (Miguel Bernardeau) is captured and held as a prisoner of war, Sebastián is entranced by him and drawn in as he’s charged with finding out what information he knows before his eventual execution. In 1932, Carlos (Milo Quifes) is blackballed when he applies for membership at the local casino because of his suspected homosexuality, and he must consider whether to renounce his accusations or stay true to who he knows he is. In 2017, Alberto (Carlos González) receives a call that the grandfather he never knew has died and apparently left him something, a development his mother (Lola Dueñas) isn’t even willing to acknowledge or discuss.
This film is a considerable undertaking that builds three distinct settings for each of its three narratives. There is no explicit marker that separates the scenes from one another, and they sometimes flow thematically as these characters struggle with newfound obstacles and the persistence of the ones that consistently stand in their way. Sebastián and Carlos aren’t that far apart in time but still feel like they’re in completely different worlds, in part because Carlos, lonely as he may be, is surrounded by friends and family, as well as those who don’t want him to be part of their circles, while Sebastián has lost everything and clings to the connection he feels to someone who is supposed to be his enemy. Alberto experiences a different type of isolation from his family but, unlike the other two, has achieved a degree of success and is able to pursue something he cares about in a more evolved and accepting world.
Directors Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi have crafted something exquisite here, in collaboration with co-screenwriter Alberto Conejero, an expansive, multifaceted story is drawn from the inspiration of four pages of an unfinished work from 1936 by Federico García Lorca, honoring underrepresented voices who were not afforded the celebration they later earned during their lifetimes. These characters, particularly Sebastián and Carlos, stand in for so many who needed to keep pieces of themselves secret in order to survive and to decide what was worth risking to allow some of who they really were to be seen by those they hoped they could trust.
The visuals of this film are astounding, with gorgeous cinematography by Gris Jordana accompanied by an emphatic, thunderous score from Raül Refree. The backdrop is well-matched by the caliber of the performers, particularly musician Guitarricadelafuente in his acting debut. There’s a reserved gentleness to him that comes through in the way that he observes the misdeeds of those around him and lets his guard down around his prisoner. Penélope Cruz, who is having a banner year with Bunker, also at TIFF, and The Invite, makes a distinct and unforgettable impression as an entertainer who hosts a horde of visiting soldiers and offers them an escape from their everyday hell. La Bola Negra is ambitious and captivating, gleaning significance and meaning from quiet moments of connection and recognition spanning almost a century.
Movie Rating: 8/10
La Bola Negra is Spain’s official Oscar submission for Best International Feature and makes its Canadian premiere in the Special Presentations section at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival. It will be released in select theaters on October 16th by Netflix.
