"A Black Ball": a film made of excesses

The film "A Bola Negra" explores themes of intolerance and repression in 1930s Spain through three intertwined narratives. It begins with Carlos, a young man denied entry to an elite club due to rumors of his homosexuality. The second part follows Sebástian, a survivor of a massacre during the Civil War, who falls for a real-life figure, Rafael Rodríguez Rapun, a poet and actor executed for his beliefs. The final segment features Alberto, a gay historian uncovering family secrets linked to the lost play by Lorca. Despite its ambitious themes and emotional depth, the film is criticized for its melodramatic excesses and convoluted storytelling, though it features notable performances, including Penélope Cruz and Glenn Close.