1948. On a moonlit and violent
night, a stranger arrives in his pickup truck at a tavern in an
Asturian village. His name is Ramiro Forteza (Carmelo G¢mez), a
First Division goalkeeper who, because of the war, has been forced
to play in village squares rather than soccer stadiums. In his hand
he carries an apple with a bite out of it - a sign that the
guns in the mountains have not fallen silent. Forteza explains to
the locals his personal show: for a handful of coins, he challenges
them to throw penalty kicks with him at the goal to see if they can
score. If anyone can beat him, the money will be his. Amongst those
present is an enthusiast, Tito (Adri n Ram¡rez). He is the son
of Manuela (Maribel Verd£), a mistrustful woman who has become this
way because she has endured barbarities and marginalization. She is
a survivor who makes her living as a seamstress, sewing for érsula
(Elvira M¡nguez), the wife of Sergeant Andrade (Antonio Resines)
and the risky friend of the village doctor; a drunkard (Abel
Vit¢n).
While Forteza, Tito and Manuela
enter into a dangerous friendship, Don Constantino (Roberto
Alvarez), the vehement local priest offers to help the goalkeeper
in exchange for a peculiar service. Forteza's shows as a goalkeeper
and his growing relationship with Manuela will be disrupted by a
proposal from Sergeant Andrade which he won't be able to decline
and Nardo (Eduard Fern ndez), the leader of the resistance
movement in the region, will want to capitalize on it.
The dice of love and war will be at
stake in a decisive confrontation that will take place at the
seashore.
Awards and festivals
* Nominated to Two Goya Awards
(Spanish Academy Awards):
- Best Leading Actor: Carmelo
Gómez.
- Best Adapted Screenplay: Gonzalo
Suárez, Manuel Hidalgo.