The black ball (The black ball() is a 2026 Spanish-French musical drama film directed by Javier Ambrosi and Javier Calvo from a screenplay by Javier Ambrosi, Javier Calvo and Alberto Conejero. The film premiered in Spain on 2 October 2026.
„The black ball“" is one of the most daring and artistically ambitious Spanish productions of the decade. Directed by Javier Ambrosi and Javier Calvo — known as "Los Javis" — the film is at once a historical drama, a musical experience, and a deeply personal story about identity, love, and inherited pain. Inspired by the unfinished work of Federico García Lorca, the film attempts to translate the author's poetic and tragic world through different eras of Spanish history.
From the very first scenes, it is clear that this will not be a traditional historical drama.„The black ball“" is constructed as an emotional mosaic — a beautiful, painful, and sometimes almost surreal film that places feelings and atmosphere above the classic plot rhythm.
The story follows the lives of three men in three different periods — 1932, 1937, and 2017. Although they live in different times, their destinies are connected through themes of love, sexuality, fear, and a sense of belonging. The film gradually reveals how societal pressures, political events, and family expectations shape the lives of the characters. Each of them tries to find their own place in a world that often seems hostile to diversity.
Instead of using a linear narrative, the script weaves the three stories together almost like a musical composition. The past and present constantly reflect each other, and individual scenes often resemble poetic memories or dreams. The strongest aspect of the plot is its emotional sincerity. The film does not try to shock at all costs, but rather to show how pain and desire can be passed down through generations. It is this theme of „inherited wounds“ that gives the story unexpected depth.
Javier Ambrosi and Javier Calvo direct the film with great visual confidence. Each period has its own style and atmosphere, from the warm, almost theatrical shots of the 1930s to the colder and more solitary modern aesthetic of 2017. The directors are clearly heavily inspired by Spanish auteur cinema, and especially the emotional style of Pedro Almodóvar, but „The black ball“" manages to build its own identity. The film balances between intimate human drama and almost operatic emotionality.
Raul Refry's music is extremely important to the atmosphere. The soundtrack mixes traditional Spanish influences with modern and experimental elements, which reinforces the feeling of a timeless story. Gris Jordana's cinematography is magnificent - especially in scenes where light and color are used almost as an emotional language. Many shots look like living paintings.
Penelope Cruz proves once again why she remains one of the strongest names in European cinema. Her presence brings a mixture of warmth, tragedy and inner strength. Even in the quieter scenes, she manages to emotionally dominate the screen.
Glenn Close is one of the most interesting additions to the film. Although her participation is unexpected for a Spanish production, she fits surprisingly naturally into the atmosphere of the story. The actress adds weight and a sense of a past that haunts the characters.
Miguel Bernardo and Carlos Gonzalez They create very human and vulnerable characters, and Lorenzo Dzurzolo brings a special sensitivity and emotional tension to his scenes.
Particularly impressive is the debut of Guitaricadelafuente. Although he is better known as a musician, here he displays a natural screen presence and a very intimate playing style that perfectly fits the poetic atmosphere of the film.
„The black ball“" is not a film for a mass audience and will likely divide viewers. It is a slow, emotional and highly artistic production that puts atmosphere and feelings above traditional storytelling. But that is precisely where its strength lies. The film manages to transform personal pain and the theme of identity into something universal and deeply human. The story of three men from different eras gradually becomes a story about memory, legacy and the need to be accepted as one is. "„The black ball“" is both a love letter to Federico García Lorca and a bold modern interpretation of themes that continue to sound painfully relevant today.
