Maspalomas

Straight from its world premiere at the San Sebastian Film Festival, where it picked up the Best Actor prize, this is an exceptionally moving and superbly directed film about a belatedly “out” homosexual trying to make up for lost time. But when he is sent to a nursing home after suffering a stroke, 76-year-old Vicente reverts to his previous closeted identity, a state that seems here akin to a living death. Gradually though, under an unlikely influence, Vicente regains his spark…

Maspalomas is the seventh feature-length production from a triumvirate of writer-directors based in the Basque resort of San Sebastian, operating under the collective moniker ’Moriarti’ (also the name of their production-company), responsible for such acclaimed fare as The Endless Trench and Marco. The trio — Aitor Arregi, Jon Garaño and Jose Mari Goenaga — switch duties from project to project; this is the first to be attributed to co-directors Arregi and Goenaga since 2007.

A well crafted crowdpleaser built around an empathetic and involving performance by José Ramón Soroiz, who is present in every scene..

Neil Young, Sight & Sound

One of those stories that moves even the coldest hearts, but also knows how to evoke smiles.

Andrea Zamora, Sensacine