Summaries

An examination on the effect of Franco-era religious schooling and sexual abuse on the lives of two longtime friends.

In the early 60s, two boys - Ignacio and Enrique - discover love, movies and fear in a Christian school. Father Manolo, the school principal and Literature teacher, both witnesses and takes part in these discoveries. The three characters come against one another twice again, in the late 70s and in 1980. These meetings are set to change the life and death of some of them.—Anonymous

In 1980 Madrid, Ignacio Rodriguez lands on the doorstep of his childhood friend, Enrique Goded, a man he has not seen in sixteen years since the day Enrique was expelled from school. Enrique is now a famous filmmaker, Ignacio an aspiring actor with the stage name Angel Andrade. Angel, who as a child loved writing, has a semi-autobiographical manuscript in hand, which he hopes, unspoken, that Enrique will turn into a screenplay and cast him in one of the major roles. The manuscript primarily tells the story of their friendship at St. John's catholic school, which included their first sexual experience with each other; Ignacio's relationship with Father Manolo, the principal and literature teacher of the school; and Ignacio's fantasy encounter with Father Manolo as an adult. In meeting Angel, Enrique sees a man different than what he imagined Ignacio to be, almost unrecognizable. Father Manolo may be able to shed some light on the difference that Enrique notices.—Huggo

Details

Keywords
  • sexual abuse
  • young boy
  • blow job
  • childhood trauma
  • story within a story
Genres
  • Crime
  • Drama
Release date Mar 18, 2004
Motion Picture Rating (MPA) R
Countries of origin Spain Belgium
Official sites Sony Classics
Language Spanish Latin
Filming locations Escuela Pías de Alella, Alella, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Production companies Canal+ España Instituto de la Cinematografía y de las Artes Audiovisuales (ICAA) El Deseo

Box office

Budget $5000000
Gross US & Canada $5284284
Opening weekend US & Canada $147370
Gross worldwide $40432275

Tech specs

Runtime 1h 46m
Sound mix Dolby Digital
Aspect ratio 2.35 : 1

Synopsis

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