‘La Bola Negra’ Trailer: Netflix’s Oscar Contender Is a Time-Bending Queer Epic That Won Best Director at Cannes

Netflix released the official trailer for “La Bola Negra” (“The Black Ball”), from directors Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi.

Set in 1932, 1937 and 2017, the Spanish-language queer epic explores the interconnected lives of three gay men. The film is inspired by an unfinished work of the same name by Spanish poet and playwright Federico García Lorca and Alberto Conejero’s play “La Piedra Oscura” (“The Dark Stone”). Conejero co-wrote the screenplay with Calvo and Ambrossi, known collectively as Los Javis.

The cast features Spanish musician Guitarricadelafuente (Álvaro Lafuente Calvo) in his acting debut as Sebastián, Carlos González as Alberto, Miguel Bernardeau as Rafael Rodríguez Rapún, Milo Quifes as Carlos, Lola Dueñas as Teresa, Penélope Cruz as Nené Romero, Glenn Close as Isabelle Durand, Julio Torres as Juan Pablo and Alberto Cortés as Federico García Lorca. 

The film made its world premiere at Cannes in May, where Calvo and Ambrossi won the Best Director Award. It features an original song, “La Nieve,” written and performed by Guitarricadelafuente, and a score from Raül Refree.

“La Bola Negra” is slated for a theatrical release in Spain on Sept. 25. Netflix won the bidding war for U.S. distribution rights following the film’s Cannes premiere and set a theatrical window starting Oct. 16 before a streaming debut on Dec. 2. This marks the longest theatrical window for a Netflix film, breaking the record previously held by 2019’s “Marriage Story” starring Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver.

“La Bola Negra” is a Movistar Plus+ Original Film in collaboration with Suma Content Films. Telefónica Audiovisual Digital and Los Esquiadores AIE produced the film. El Deseo and Le Pacte co-produced, with the participation of Atresmedia and CREA SGR.

Watch the trailer below.