Spanish historical drama La Bola Negra opens in Croatian cinemas on 29 October

Spanish historical drama La Bola Negra (Crna kugla in Croatian) opens in cinemas across Croatia on Thursday, 29 October. It is the latest film from the directing duo Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi.

The cast includes Penélope Cruz, Glenn Close, Miguel Bernardeau and the Spanish musician Guitarricadelafuente.

Three eras, one lost work

The story unfolds across three periods: 1932, 1937 and 2017. It follows three young men whose lives are linked by a lost work by the Spanish poet and playwright Federico García Lorca.

According to Index.hr, the film explores love, loss, family relationships and the consequences of the past that can be felt generations later. It also looks at relationships that were kept quiet for decades, and asks how well we really know our own history.

Festival success

The film had its premiere at this year's Cannes Film Festival, where it reportedly received an 18-minute standing ovation. Calvo and Ambrossi won the award for best director there.

It has also collected further honours closer to home for Croatian audiences:

• the audience award for best film at the Toronto festival;
• the Kino Mreža (Cinema Network) award for best international film in the Greater Adria programme at the Pula Film Festival.

Before you go

The running time is 155 minutes, so it is worth planning for a long evening at the cinema. Check your local cinema's listings for screening times and whether it is shown in the original Spanish with subtitles.

For anyone interested in Lorca, Spanish history or character-driven period drama, it is one of the more talked-about arthouse releases of the autumn.