From Vanity Fair · José Criales-Unzueta · · 2m
La Bola Negra Defies Hollywood Expectations
Spanish directors Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi create a film based on Federico García Lorca's unfinished play La Bola Negra, starring Miguel Bernardeau and Guitarricadelafuente.
In brief
Spanish directors Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi create a film based on Federico García Lorca's unfinished play La Bola Negra, starring Miguel Bernardeau and Guitarricadelafuente. Spanish directors Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi made La Bola Negra, a film based on García Lorca's unfinished play, starring Miguel…
La Bola Negra Film
Spanish directors Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi made La Bola Negra, a film based on Federico García Lorca's unfinished play from 1936.
García Lorca's Legacy
Federico García Lorca, a Spanish poet and playwright executed in 1939 during the Spanish Civil War, inspired the film's themes.
Main Cast
Miguel Bernardeau, 29, and Guitarricadelafuente, 29, star in La Bola Negra as Rafael and Sebastián, characters tied to García Lorca's history.
Film's Time Span
La Bola Negra spans three timelines: 1932, 1937, and 2017, connecting gay men through love, loss, and the Spanish Civil War.
Guitarricadelafuente's Role
Guitarricadelafuente, a singer known as Guitarrica, plays Sebastián, a trumpeter who joins the Nationalist army in 1937.
Bernardeau's Role
Bernardeau plays Rafael, a gay man denied casino club membership in 1932 due to his sexuality.
Film's Themes
The film explores queerness in Spanish history, generational trauma, and the impact of the Spanish Civil War on gay men.
Audition Stories
Bernardeau said he missed the opportunity of a lifetime during his audition for Rafael, but was offered the role after a week and a half.
“I was like damn, I missed the opportunity of a lifetime.”
Guitarrica's Casting
Guitarricadelafuente met directors Calvo and Ambrossi at a music festival in Barcelona two years ago and was offered the role after a week.
Cannes Recognition
La Bola Negra premiered at Cannes Film Festival in May 2024 and won best direction for Ambrossi and Calvo.
Academy Awards
La Bola Negra is eligible for Spain's best international feature film category at the Academy Awards.
Film's Message
Guitarricadelafuente says the film makes viewers want to live, emphasizing the drive to not leave anything unfinished.
“It’s a movie that when you finish it, it makes you want to live.”
Historical Context
The film draws inspiration from García Lorca's unfinished play and co-writer Alberto Conejero's La Piedra Oscura.
Impact
La Bola Negra has become a cultural phenomenon in Spain and beyond, with Bernardeau and Guitarricadelafuente becoming internet sensations.
The headline
Spanish directors Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi made La Bola Negra, a film based on García Lorca's unfinished play, starring Miguel Bernardeau and Guitarricadelafuente.
