THE FLAMENCO GUITAR OF YERAI CORTÉS

The winner of the Goya for Best Documentary Feature Film, is structured, as Variety says, like a mystery drama, much of the film’s running time suggests that Cortés’ sorrow stems from his parents’ separation, particularly their lack of communication. However, there is something else, far more touchingly tragic, which is gradually revealed and drives the film forward, becoming a delicate act of remembrance. As Álvarez meets his family—his father Miguel and his mother María—the film delves deeper into the heart of sadness. Some songs performed in the film are spectacular set pieces, such as “Plaza Argel,” a bulerías performance in Alicante’s Plaza Argel, where Cortés played as a child.

The story unfolds through Yerai Cortés, a rising star in Spain’s flamenco scene. Anton Álvarez (aka C. Tangana) met him at a party, where Cortés played guitar for Montse Cortés under the Starlight satellites. Known for his refined, unique style, Cortés’ life is marked by a dark family secret and a sorrow he longs to share with the world.