The Basque film Maspalomas offers a sun-drenched, humane portrait of a man who dares to start over later in life. Set on the golden beaches of the Canary Islands, the story traces Vicente’s emergence as a gay man at 50, the break with his marriage and the decades that follow as he embraces intimacy and community. When a sudden health crisis forces him into a care setting, the film examines how systems and families respond to an elder whose sexuality refuses to be erased.
Directed by Aitor Arregi and Jose Mari Goenaga, Maspalomas doesn’t flinch from scenes of tenderness or desire among older characters. The film has resonated with international audiences and critics, winning awards and earning praise for its emotional clarity and compassion. Screenings in Australia and New Zealand are part of the EUROPA! EUROPA Film Festival, which runs from 19 February to 19 March.
Story and themes: aging, sexuality and selfhood
Maspalomas centers on Vicente, a man who comes out at 50 and lives openly for decades, claiming pleasure and friendship in his seventies. The narrative follows a dramatic pivot: after a night out, Vicente suffers a stroke and falls into a coma. Awake again, he is placed in a residential care home by his estranged daughter—an environment where his queer identity is quietly suppressed. The film explores what it means to be forced back into the closet by institutions, and how dignity and desire persist even under constraining circumstances.
The film foregrounds the intersection of ageing and queer identity, inviting viewers to reconsider assumptions that sexuality diminishes with age. Rather than treating desire among elders as mere decoration, Maspalomas makes intimacy a central, living element of its characters’ lives, using humor and tenderness to convey a powerful message: queer joy evolves and deepens, it does not vanish.
Performances and recognition
Lead actor José Ramón Soroiz received wide recognition for his portrayal of Vicente, winning the Silver Shell for Best Leading Performance at the 2026 San Sebastián International Film Festival and the Sebastiane Award. Critics and festival audiences have praised the film’s empathy, clarity and the way it treats its subjects with respect. Reviews highlighted the film’s ability to balance candid depictions of late-life intimacy with a humane outlook that avoids sentimentality.
International festival programmers have since added Maspalomas to lineups from London to Montreal, where its combination of warmth and candidness has struck a chord. Publications such as Dirty Movies described it as “a superb Basque drama bursting with humanism, empathy and candid sex,” a response that reflects the film’s commitment to portraying mature queer lives honestly.
Why the film matters
Maspalomas addresses a gap in mainstream storytelling: narratives that follow queer people beyond youth. The film is an argument for visibility, showing that later-life chapters can be about renewal, pleasure and self-acceptance. For viewers of any age, the movie offers both laughter and reflection, and it challenges stereotypes that confine older people to desexualized roles.
At its core, the film is about reclaiming agency. Vicente’s experience—coming out at midlife, building a joyful community, and then confronting institutional erasure—speaks to broad questions of autonomy, family dynamics and the design of care systems. It asks: how do services and loved ones honor the full identity of older people, including their sexual and emotional needs? The film’s answer is emphatic: dignity includes desire.
Festival screenings in australia and new zealand
As part of the EUROPA! EUROPA Film Festival, Maspalomas will screen across multiple venues. In Melbourne: Classic Cinemas, Elsternwick (Thu 19 Feb – Thu 19 Mar); Lido Cinemas, Hawthorn (Thu 19 Feb – Thu 19 Mar); Cameo Cinemas, Belgrave (Fri 20 Feb – Mon 2 Mar). Sydney audiences can see it at Ritz Cinemas, Randwick (Thu 19 Feb – Thu 19 Mar). In Brisbane, it plays at Angelika Cinemas, Woolloongabba (Thu 19 Feb – Sun 1 Mar); Hobart at State Cinema, Hobart (Thu 19 Feb – Sun 1 Mar); and Auckland at Bridgeway Cinemas, Auckland (Thu 19 Feb – Wed 4 Mar).
Who should watch
Anyone interested in films that expand how we imagine ageing and sexuality will find Maspalomas compelling. It’s especially relevant for viewers curious about queer elder narratives, family reconciliation, and the design of elder care that respects identity. Whether you are 25 or 75, the film invites audiences to celebrate the persistence of joy, community and desire throughout life.
For updates, reviews and related community stories in Australia, readers can follow outlets that cover LGBTIQA+ culture and film. Maspalomas is a reminder that on screen, as in life, later years can be full of renewal, intimacy and unexpected happiness.