Spanish Comedy Icon Fernando Colomo’s ‘The Delights of the Garden’ Swooped on by Latido Films in the Run-up to Cannes (EXCLUSIVE)

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Fernando Colomo’s newest film titled ‘The Joys of the Garden,’ which beautifully portrays the human complexities as Spain transitions into modernity, has been acquired for global distribution by Latido Films, a prominent Spanish film sales agency.”

“In the latest offering from Fernando Colomo, ‘The Pleasures of the Garden,’ we find a reflection of the intricate human struggles during Spain’s transition to modern times. This work has now been secured for worldwide distribution by Latido Films, one of Spain’s leading film sales companies.

Heartbeat Media, who previously showcased Colomo’s 2021 comedy “Polyamory for Dummies, will present scenes from “The Joys of the Garden” (“Las delicias del jardín”) to potential buyers at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival Market.

Similar to several of Colomo’s films, including his groundbreaking debut “Paper Tigers” (1977), a mix of bittersweet humor and social etiquette, set against the backdrop of Spain’s 1977 general election, its first in four decades, “Delights” portrays the main character grappling with hardship as he struggles to adjust to a fresh environment.

Instead of portraying Spain’s sudden modernity (“Paper Tigers”), the dazzling New York (1984’s “Skyline”), novel sexual dynamics (“Polyamory for Dummies”), or an ancient Andalusian village (“South from Granada,” 2003), the director chooses to delve into another recurring theme: the cultural collision, this time focusing on aging, waning professional prestige, and a homecoming of a estranged child.

In this setting, esteemed abstract artist Fermín García Lopez listens to the unveiling of a significant $1 million contest aimed at producing a modern take on Hieronymus Bosch’s renowned work, “The Garden of Earthly Delights.

Initially, Fermín seems hesitant. In one of the movie’s opening scenes, the competition host remarks that Bosch is like a time messenger, having traveled from the court of Philip II to the present day. However, Fermin feels outdated compared to other artists, who are creating abstract expressions while some paint elevators or design AI dogs that critique artwork.

Also, Fermín’s painting hand has begin to suffer a tremor. 

When his bank account is blocked and his painter son comes back from India, he starts to question the importance of the competition in his life as he works on strengthening his bond with his son again.

In “The Garden of Earthly Delights,” Colomo’s 24th production, Colomo and his son, Pablo Colomo, collaborate on the script. They both appear in the movie as well, a genre that Colomo refers to as “auto-fiction.

Struggling to find a sense of balance, the main character of Colomo’s work lets loose his signature wit through comedic character development.

Or

In a state of confusion and discomfort, the protagonist of Colomo’s story showcases his unique humor by developing characters in a humorous way.

Both sentences convey the same meaning but are slightly different in structure and emphasis.

Among the 23 projects I’ve worked on, two stand out most to me: “Skyline,” filmed in New York in 1983, and “Isla Bonita,” shot over 2013-14 in Menorca. In the former, Antonio Resines was essentially playing my character, while I took on the lead role in the latter. It took some persuasion, but I bravely decided to direct the films from within, which led me to an entirely new experience and a whole new world of possibilities.

Together with Pablo, I’ve penned a screenplay that aims to portray our disparate perspectives. Specifically, we want to explore varied viewpoints on politics, feminism, romance, and interpersonal dynamics; delve into the complexities of the art world and its volatile market.

Featuring Carmen Machi (“Piggy,” “La Mesías,” “Celeste”), “The Pleasures of the Garden” is a production by Comba Films and Telespan, with Prime Video supporting its release in Spain.

Beatriz de la Gándara, known for producing the Colomo films since “Alegre ma non troppo” in 1994, which featured a young Penélope Cruz, is again serving as a producer, this time teaming up with José Luis Povedano and Colomo.

From the outset, our team has closely watched this project unfold, but upon seeing it projected onto a large screen, we found ourselves unable to suppress our laughter,” remarked Antonio Saura, head of Latido Films. “We were completely engrossed by these characters and their predicaments.

Fernando Colomo has created what I consider his finest film in years – a movie that I truly enjoy. As an actor, he is exceptional, and the storyline is intelligent and humorous, making it hard to resist wanting to learn more. The actors are simply fantastic! This film is delightful, light-hearted, funny, and pure entertainment. Upon seeing it, my first thought was ‘we need this movie.’ It’s a pleasure collaborating with Fernando Colomo, Beatriz de la Gándara, and their talented team, who despite being old friends, have a youthful spirit as creators.

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2025-05-08 10:01