Spanish directing duo Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo earned Cannes festival prizes and secured a 46-day theatrical window for their queer war epic La Bola Negra ahead of its Netflix release.
Directors Secure Cannes Victory
Cannes director Thierry Frémaux greeted Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo with disbelief before awarding them the festival’s best director prize jointly with Pawel Pawlikowski for his film Fatherland. The project is now an early frontrunner for the Oscars.
Known in their home country as Los Javis, the creators designed their ambitious project to break away from traditional cinematic boundaries. I’m done with LGBTQ+ movies being niche, Ambrossi said in an interview, explaining their ambition to construct a large-scale war drama. The resulting film operates on a budget of 15 million dollars.
Three Timelines in Spanish History
The earliest segment takes place in 1932, where elite casino members use a system of black and white balls to vote on admitting newcomers, with the black ball — la bola negra — becoming a symbol of queer generational shame and rejection. The narrative then moves to 1937 during the Spanish Civil War, following Sebastián as he develops a bond with his lover. A modern strand set in Madrid in 2017 introduces Alberto, played by Carlos González.
The drama draws inspiration from Alberto Conejero’s play La piedra oscura alongside surviving fragments of renowned playwright Federico Garcia Lorca’s unfinished work, La bola negra. Grounded by cinematography from Gris Jordana, the framing uses tight doorframes and poetic blocking to emphasize Sebastián’s solitary world.
Netflix Grants Record Theatrical Window
Netflix secured global distribution rights after prevailing in an industry bidding war and agreed to an unprecedented theatrical release schedule for the film.
La Bola Negra will remain in cinemas for 46 days, representing the longest exclusive theatrical window ever granted by Netflix. Additional regional rollouts include a release in UK cinemas scheduled for November 6.
Partnership Drives Creative Process
The journey to the screen proved personally transformative for the two directors.
Every project is a road to the unknown and we know we’re going to be different at the end of the road. We faced desire, love and all these complex feelings.
Javier Calvo, via Yahoo
Ambrossi and Calvo previously served as judges on the Spanish edition of Drag Race. Their latest film benefits from high-profile contributions, including production backing from Pedro Almodóvar and acting appearances by Penélope Cruz in a blond wig and Glenn Close performing in Spanish.
I don’t know what it is to be a director if he’s not there. It’s going to stay that way. We love to work together.
Javier Ambrossi, via Yahoo