Los Javis Unveil Upcoming Lorca-Inspired Feature ‘La Bola Negra’:  The First Time the Duo Has ‘Written About What It Means to Be a Gay Man’

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As a passionate cinephile, I had the privilege today of attending an intriguing presentation by the esteemed creative pair, Los Javis – Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo – at the iconic Telefónica Building on Madrid’s Gran Via. They unveiled preliminary insights into their upcoming masterpiece, “La bola negra,” a compelling multi-timelined feature that delves deep into the experiences and significance of being a gay man in Spain over the last century.

One day following the Rose d’Or Award win for best mini or limited series at Content Americas for their series “La Mesías”, Ambrossi and Calvo (locally recognized as Los Javis) have announced that they are nearing completion of the project and will start filming later in 2022. Ambrossi and Calvo are responsible for writing, directing, and co-producing this production through their label Suma Content, working alongside Movistar+, their production and distribution partner, on “La Mesías.”

As a movie enthusiast, I’d rephrase that as: “From the stage, Ambrossi shared that ‘La bola negra’ is a thought-provoking exploration of our nation’s history from a queer perspective. The film draws its title from one of Federico García Lorca’s unfinished works – a four-page manuscript penned by the legendary gay Spanish poet, playwright, and theater director. In these pages, Lorca wrote about a character rejected due to their sexual orientation, a piece he was unable to complete as he was tragically killed. This work serves as our starting point for a reflection on what it means to be gay across different eras. We delve into the personal journeys of three men from various time periods, bound by their sexuality, desire, pain, and shared heritage – all while respecting Lorca’s legacy.”

Additionally, Calvo further explained that ‘La bola negra’ tells the interconnected lives of these three men across different epochs, primarily linked through their sexuality, suffering, and inheritance. The story also revolves around one final, unfinished work by Federico García Lorca.

Just as Lorca’s work marked the debut of a leading gay character in his piece, “La bola negra” will mark the first time Los Javis feature a gay man as the protagonist in their work. As Ambrossi reminisced, they have previously explored queer themes through stories about women and trans individuals. However, this time around, the narrative will be presented from a perspective that is familiar to them personally.

More to come…

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2025-01-22 18:46