LA BOLA NEGRA Review

La Bola Negra is an epic, sprawling web of interconnecting stories taking place in 1932, 1937, and 2017 across Spain. In 1932, we look at Carlos (Milo Quifes), a young man coming to terms with his sexuality, while his father is grasping at straws trying to gain him access to an elite gentlemen's club in Granada. He wants to appease his father, and he appears before the board of conservative elders who have heard rumblings about him throughout town. 1937 centers around Sebastián (Guitarricadelafuente), whose town is bombed accidentally by Italian soldiers, forcing him to join Franco's nationalist army. While he is guarding a resistance member they have imprisoned, Rafael (Miguel Bernardeau), the two form a lasting connection in the last place either of them wants to be. Finally, in 2017, we follow Alberto (Carlos González), an ex-playwright in Madrid navigating the queer dating world in a tech era. His strained relationship with his mother, Teresa (Lola Dueñas), comes front and center when his maternal grandfather passes and leaves behind something for Alberto.

La Bola Negra premiered at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival to rave reviews and rapturous applause. Directors Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo come from a primarily television background, and completely blew the doors off of the south of France this May. They took home the prize for Best Director (shared with Paweł Pawlikowski) at Cannes. More recently, La Bola Negra took home the People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, a rare feat for a foreign-language film and a huge Oscar precursor. The hype is real, and very much warranted.

La Bola Negra is an incredibly audacious project to take on. The triptych narrative is a tricky balancing act, making sure all storylines are fleshed out without drowning out their counterparts. The film was shot for $16 million USD, but has the grandiose feel of a '90s historical epic. In a lot of ways, it is very straightforward and approachable, although it does dip its toes into some surreal elements here and there. This will no doubt appeal to mainstream audiences and critics alike, and it's fairly easy to see why Netflix is going all out on this film.

La Bola Negra is excellent from a craft standpoint. The huge scale of the film is matched with noteworthy cinematography from DP Gris Jordana. The ability to capture both wide-lens war scenes and intimate close-ups, and balance them seamlessly, is extremely well done. The editing is phenomenal, truly a standout here. It finds a perfect transitional flow, remaining fast-paced but allowing certain moments to breathe. A hybrid score/soundtrack that is haunting, beautiful, and includes Tubthumping by Chumbawamba. The song La Nieve, which is sung and co-written by Guitarricadelafuente, is fabulous on its own, but when laid over the film, it's truly amazing.

The ensemble cast is truly firing on all cylinders. This film is going to do really well across all bodies in ensemble and casting categories. The closest thing we get to a lead is Guitarricadelafuente, in his film debut, and he is wonderful. The film is not subtle, but a lot of the performances are, especially his. He navigates tumultuous circumstances and is forced to make some incredibly difficult decisions. Carlos González and Lola Dueñas showcase a complex mother-and-son relationship, with restrained and anguished performances. A lot rides on this dynamic, and they both bring a fresh take to the equation. In a lot of ways, Milo Quifes is the emotional heartbeat of the film. His struggle feels universal and unique at the same time, and he has a childlike perspective, learning about himself and the world through friends and family. Penélope Cruz and Glenn Close are basically making cameos, but they are both truly memorable.

La Bola Negra isn't immune from feeling a bit saccharine at times. The narrative hinges on these heavy emotional beats that act as a twist or a reveal, which can certainly feel manipulative. It's not ludicrous, and it's hard to imagine it being a severe detractor for many critics, as the film's highs wildly outshine its lows. And it may be a plus for the Academy, who certainly will eat this film up.

Spanning generations, this tenderly directed love story is epic in scale and full of heart. A film that won over the Cannes crowd and the Toronto crowd, and will continue to win over audiences the rest of this year and into next. A massive awards contender that will speak to everyone. Los Javi's have directed perhaps the defining film of 2026, a must-see in theaters. Netflix is all in, and you should be too. ¡Viva España!

🍿 SCORE = 91 / 100