‘La Bola Negra’ finds queer love across time with uneven results

The gay Spanish historical epic “La Bola Negra” (“The Black Ball”), now in theaters ahead of its Netflix debut Dec. 2, arrives with its own impressive history. The filmmakers, Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo, known as “Los Javis,” won the Best Director prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. The directors also have a history — they were romantic partners for more than a dozen years before breaking up in 2025 during filming (They continue to collaborate). This absorbing drama about gay men across three historical timelines is Spain’s Oscar submission for Best International Feature and a potential Best Picture nominee. It is a stunning achievement, both visually and emotionally — with some heartbreaking romance and terrific cameos by Penélope Cruz and Glenn Close. But the film can be a little obtuse for folks not up on their 1930s Spanish history or the works of the assassinated gay playwright Federico García Lorca.

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