Penélope Cruz: “During the war, my Republican great-grandfather was taken away and we never saw him again”

Finish in style. Cannes closes and Penélope Cruz agrees to talk about The black ballan intimate and baroque fresco set against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War by Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo (aka “the Javis”), is part of a Spanish cinema rich in new talents. This does not prevent the actress from mentioning Pedro Almodovar, again and again.

LE FIGARO. – Why did you want to participate in The black ball in the role of a review leader who boosts the morale of the Franco troops?

PENÉLOPE CRUZ. – I was a big fan of the Javis and we met. During this meeting, they told me: “We have a script but we hesitate to send it to you because the role is small.” I told them that I don’t choose a film based on the number of minutes of the role on screen. I deeply love my character and what she represents: a form of dream of freedom, for herself, Sebastian and the other soldiers. It embodies the idea that another world…