La Bola Negra

Grade: B-

La Bola Negra bounces around through three different time periods. The thread that runs through it is what it’s like to be a gay man, and how that has (and perhaps hasn’t) changed over the years. Directors Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo (nicknamed “Los Javis”) have worked together extensively for more than a decade, and were in a relationship for much of that time.

The title, which translates in English to “the black ball,” comes from the 1932 storyline, set in Granada. This is where we meet Carlos, a young man from a wealthy family. He is denied membership from an exclusive casino via a ballot where he receives more black balls (indicating “no”) than white balls (indicating “yes”). Rumors about his homosexuality kept him from getting all whites.

Meanwhile, in 1937, we are introduced to Sebastián, a young trumpet player. After surviving an attack by an Italian aircraft, he must join the Nationalist forces, and is assigned to look after Rafael, a wounded Republican prisoner of war. An unorthodox friendship, and maybe more, forms. We also go to 2017, where former playwright Alberto has received word that his grandfather has passed away, and there’s an inheritance of sorts awaiting him in Cantabria.

The movie volleys back and forth between these three storylines. The Secret Agent, out last year, was also a period war epic with a present-day narrative interspersed. I also thought of Digger, once we find something out about one of these storylines. In a cast that includes Penélope Cruz and Glenn Close, the standout performance comes from Guitarricadelafuente as Sebastián. He has the acting chops to carry a movie, and he wrote a song for it. Expect to see his name feature prominently throughout award season, with acting and original song nominations. Cruz is having fun and is always great to see, but her subplot doesn’t feel entirely necessary, and could have been heavily trimmed if not completely jettisoned.

I had a misconception that a gay person coming out was a universally happy occasion that is always celebrated. I was set straight (no pun intended) when I read a comment from one of my gay friends who said they’re happy for the person coming out, but more than anything, it makes them sad that they felt like they had to be IN a closet for so long, and couldn’t be who they were. There’s a bittersweetness to it that didn’t occur to me.

La Bola Negra is intimidatingly long at 2 hours and 40 minutes, and is quite heavy-handed. Los Javis know their way around a camera, and it’s always beautiful to look at, and the heaviness was earned, never devolving into unintentional comedy. I still wish there was at least 20 minutes less of it. I think viewers will get a lot out of it, and I’m looking forward to the reaction it gets when it arrives on Netflix in early December. It’s a one-and-done for me, but I still walked away with a minor soft spot for it.

Grade: B-