Sand and Blood

Manuel is a Spanish émigré to France. Now a doctor his family left Franco's Spain during the worst of the troubles (and only after his grandfather had been machine-gunned with other dissidents in the local bullring). He is now married with two young children and lives his life,as he confesses 'afraid of life'.

Returning from the beach one Sunday Manuel meets Francisco, a popular, good-looking young matador. Although both men are straight, they are attracted to each other in some obscure way and start spending time in each other's company. While this attraction threatens Manuel's home-life, the threat to Francisco's way of life is even greater.

While gay men who have spent time 'in the closet' will find much to identify with in this film, others may wonder why it was ever made. No mention of homosexuality is ever made but, for those whose 'gaydar' is finely attuned, the eroticism of these men's attraction couldn't be plainer. Although this film reminds me a lot of the work of Eloy de la Iglesia, it's directed by a woman. I was a bit surprised by that and unsure what her motivation in making this film was.