The feature film, directed by Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo, known as Los Javis, transports the narrative of Conejero's original work to three distinct eras: 1932, 1937, and 2017. This cinematic adaptation explores how the characters' destinies intertwine over time, maintaining the poetic essence of the story.
The play 'The Dark Stone', awarded the Max Prize and the National Prize for Dramatic Literature, focuses on the life of Rafael Rodríguez Rapún, an engineering student and romantic partner of Federico García Lorca during the last years of his life. Conejero actively participated as a screenwriter in this adaptation, a collaboration that arose from the directors' interest in his work.
“"They saw the play at its premiere a decade ago. A few years ago, they told me of their desire to turn that play into a film, and when the time came to make that wish a reality, they asked me to join them in the screenplay."
The playwright from Vilches emphasizes that, although the transition from theater to cinema implies a change in language, both versions share the same poetic vision. The film expands the original story, offering a play of times and mirrors that, according to Conejero, will surprise audiences.
“"The nobility of Rafael Rodríguez Rapún's spirit and his humanist ideals; his deep and complex relationship with the poet I most admire, and the boundless beauty of the 'Sonnets of Dark Love' that he largely inspired. His death in defense of the values I believe in, were fundamental reasons for me to focus on this figure."
The selection for Cannes represents a personal milestone for Conejero, who expresses his enthusiasm for this first experience at such a major festival. 'The Black Ball' will compete with other Spanish titles such as 'Amarga Navidad' by Pedro Almodóvar and 'El ser querido' by Rodrigo Sorogoyen at the festival, which will take place from May 12 to 23.
