The heartbreaking story behind La Bola Negra as directors split during filming
During La Bola Negra, Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo’s relationship changed. (Carla Oset/Netflix and Stephane Cardinale/Getty)
La Bola Negra, the beautiful queer epic from Spanish power couple Los Javis, has a heartbreaking true story behind its production: the directors ended their long-term relationship.
It’s an exciting time for Los Javis (Javier Calvo, 35, and Javier Ambrossi, 42), with predictions that their film could be a Best Picture Oscar contender. It’s a major international breakthrough for the directors who have served as main judges of Drag Race España and Drag Race España: All Stars since season one. However, behind the scenes of La Bola Negra, their relationship came to an end.
The pair had been romantic and professional partners for 13 years. The gay filmmakers announced their separation in November 2025.
They are said to have separated in the middle of shooting the movie. However, the break-up seems amicable, and they remain as writing, directing, and producing partners.
Who are Los Javis?
The directorial duo Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi are widely known as ‘Los Javis ’. Both are Spanish writers, producers, directors, and actors.
They wrote and directed the stage play La llamada, which was later adapted into a film in 2017.
At the film’s premiere, Ambrossi got down on one knee and proposed to Calvo. The moment became an iconic image in LGBTQ+ Spanish culture. Though they never married, they told the media they kept postponing the wedding because they were so busy.
Both got the phrase “Lo hacemos y ya vemos”, which translates to “we’ll do it and we’ll see” from La llamada, tattooed on their forearms.
The pair then went into TV, where they made Veneno, Vestidas de Azul and La Mesías.
For La Bola Negra, Los Javis won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Director.
Did Los Javis break up?
During the production of La Bola Negra, Los Javis ended their relationship.
“It wasn’t upsetting,” Calvo said about their breakup to IndieWire. “Every movie for us is cathartic in a way. We learn something from the things we write and it has to change us.
“And when we started to write this movie, we started to face passion and love and honouring the love stories that couldn’t happen in the past.
“We knew our relationship was going to either go one way or another after we cross this moving fire. Somehow in the middle of the shooting: ‘We should be family and not have a romantic relationship.’”
Ambrossi added that they weren’t fighting but the act of writing this film did lead them to question their relationship.
He explained: “When you’re writing about desire, and when you’re writing about impossible love, and when you face the fact that not so long ago, some people were not able to love, especially gay men and LGBTQ people. Then you force yourself to ask, ‘Am I honouring the past with my present?’ And the truth is we weren’t.”
Calvo also added: “It’s about what happens when you deny yourself. You miss life. We’re writing all these lines: ‘Evolve. Don’t lie to yourself. Just be honest.’ We were mature: ‘This is over.’ But something new starts, way more beautiful, which is being partners. We’re writing our next movie, half in English, half in Spanish.”
What is the plot of La Bola Negra?
La Bola Negra is a majestic, queer historical epic that jumps through time across three storylines.
Inspired by the unfinished work of Federico García Lorca and Alberto Conejero’s play La Piedra Oscura, Los Javis’ spellbinding film weaves together a triptych of portraits. Each brings a different essence of the fight for queer liberation and desire.
There’s Carlos (Milo Quifes) in 1932, who is desperate to be part of an exclusive social club, despite being voted against because of rumours that he’s gay.
Then there’s Sebastián (Guitarricadelafuente) in the 1937 Spanish Civil War. He sees an attack on his village and is forced to join the Nationalist forces. He’s positioned to be a guard for prisoner of war Rafael Rodríguez Rapún (Miguel Bernardeau).
Finally, there’s Alberto (Carlos González) in 2017. He is a queer historian trying to navigate his estranged family’s history.
Who stars in La Bola Negra?
As already mentioned, Milo Quifes, Guitarricadelafuente and Carlos González are the ilm’s three leads.
However, there are some other amiliar faces in the film.
Notably, Penélope Cruz is Nené Romero, an important character in the 1937 timeline. She is a beloved woman who is entertaining the troops. Cruz delivers a sparkling performance with irresistible charm. Nené also introduces Sebastián to queer hero Edmond de Bries.
Also, Glenn Close appears in the 2017 narrative thread as Isabelle Durand. Isabelle is a historian and scholar who helps Alberto map out his family’s history.
The supporting cast is rounded out by Lola Dueñas, Julio Torres, Yenesi and many more.
La Bola Negra is out in UK cinemas on 6 November and is then set to be available on Netflix.
