Director Ian de la Rosa presents 'Iván & Hadoum' in cinemas this Friday, a feature film that has garnered accolades such as the Teddy Award at the Berlinale and the Biznaga for best screenplay at the Malaga Festival. The film delves into the complexity of identities and affections in a world perceived as precarious.
In contrast to other films that focus trans stories on trauma, De la Rosa aimed to portray hope and desire. "I had the need to tell a story where hope reigned," explains the director, who believes that trans identity should be "just another trait," not a conflict. The film explores falling in love and pleasure, highlighting how feeling loved "reinforces your self-esteem, encourages you to fight your battles."
Set in the greenhouse environment of Almería, the plot follows Iván, a forklift operator, and Hadoum, a tomato packer. This setting allows the director to address the "social struggle" and the "desire to ascend" of those starting from the bottom. The character of Iván faces moral dilemmas, adopting a "certain masculine violence" due to family pressure to provide for his home.
The film also reflects on geographical mobility for work and identity reasons. While traditionally the focus is on the "sexile" of the trans character, in 'Iván & Hadoum', it is Iván who stays and Hadoum who must leave to live her sexuality freely. Hadoum returns to her roots, tired, and dialogues with Iván about the intersection of identities, particularly relevant for many Hispanic Moroccans.
De la Rosa, who grew up in Níjar, defends the richness of cultural coexistence, criticizing the far-right's perspective. "Purity is an invention, it's a fallacy, it simply doesn't exist. We are all a mix," he states, citing his own mixed background from Granada and Almería.
The director expresses his honor in receiving the Teddy Award, an award with a lineage that includes filmmakers like Almodóvar and Todd Haynes. However, he emphasizes that 'Iván & Hadoum' is "a universal story about love and desire" that transcends the queer aspect and is already deeply connecting with audiences.
