“It’s never too late to reclaim the truth of who you are.”VIBE CHECK:Humanist Drama / Emotional / Bittersweet / ReflectiveTHE PLOT:Vicente (José Ramón Soroiz), a 76-year-old Basque man, has spent the last two decades living as an openly gay man in the sunny queer eden of Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, after leaving his wife and daughter years prior. His liberation is abruptly cut short when he suffers a stroke and wakes up in a restrictive care home back in San Sebastián, arranged by his estranged daughter, Nerea (Nagore Aranburu). Stripped of his freedom and his beloved dog, Vicente chooses to go back into the closet, repressing his sexuality to fit into his new, conservative environment while sharing a room with a far-right sympathizer. THE QUEER & RADICAL ANGLE: The Involuntary Closet: The film is radical for its exploration of "ageing sexuality" and the unique vulnerability queer seniors face when losing their independence. Identity as Resistance: It portrays Vicente’s struggle not just as a medical recovery, but as a "relived process of liberation," proving that the fight for one's authentic self is never truly over. Humanizing the "Absent" Father: By centering a protagonist who abandoned his traditional family to live his truth, the film offers a rare, non-judgmental look at the "shortcomings" and necessary selfishness involved in queer survival. WHY IT KILLS:The performance by José Ramón Soroiz is a "melting pot of conflicting emotions" that earned him the Silver Shell at San Sebastián and the Goya for Best Actor. Directors Aitor Arregi and Jose Mari Goenaga (the minds behind The Endless Trench) masterfully use the intoxicating sunshine of the Canary Islands to contrast with the sterile, grey confinement of the nursing home. It is a "deeply natural and affecting" journey that balances tragedy with a hopeful perspective on human growth. REVELATION SCORE: 9.7 / 10 🌊🏨
👑 MASPALOMAS (2025)
