Sabrina Carpenter and Paul Simon are at screenings of a Spanish film that’s now a top Oscar hope — and it’s breaking box office records.
Sabrina Carpenter, Paul Simon, F. Murray Abraham — and a whole lot of A-list curiosity, have been showing up at screenings of La Bola Negra, Netflix’s latest Oscar contender. The Spanish period piece, directed by Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo, is now the talk of New York and Paris, with its quiet but seismic presence in indie circles.
It’s not just buzz. It’s a full-blown cultural moment. The film, which follows three gay men across decades, 1932, 1937, 2017, has already won festivals from Toronto to Busan, and now it’s expanding into wider theaters this weekend after breaking records for a Spanish-language film. Its per-screen average?
Highest ever for a Spanish film. Second-highest ever for any non-English film, behind only Parasite. That’s not just a win. That’s a statement.
The movie, inspired by Federico García Lorca’s work, was acquired by Netflix at Cannes and has since drawn crowds that include Nan Goldin, Zachary Quinto, Matt Rogers, and even Kevin McHale. No surprise it’s trending. But what’s surprising is how much attention it’s pulling from stars who usually stay off the festival circuit.
Is it the story? The craft? Or just the fact that a Spanish film is suddenly leading the global awards race? Whatever it is, the momentum isn’t slowing.
And with the Oscars on the horizon, one question lingers: can a film about love, loss, and silence in Spain really break through? The answer might be written in the next few weeks.
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