In this joyous piece of guilty pleasure in the tradition of early Eloy de la Iglesia (Colegas, El Diputado) we get to know incredibly attractive Xabi, a teenage troublemaker who manages nothing in life except breaking out of reformatories. He finds a friend, lover and mentor in ETA member Iñaki, whose fight for an independent state is a cause Xabi wants to join. However, it turns out that there is more to his wish to become a fighter for freedom than he lets on.

Three teenage boys (one of whom is gay) break out of a youth prison and enter the world of Basque separatism in this pleasurable Spanish melodrama. A Spanish potboiler in which politics intertwine with gay love and beautiful teen stars, Clandestinos is one of this year’s best guilty pleasures of the Festival. The drama begins with three teens in a youth prison. And yes, there is the obligatory and very pleasurable shower scene. Xabi has been in and out of reform schools and prisons since he was a child. Once, while out on the streets briefly, he meets and falls in love with Iñaki, a middle-aged Basque separatist who teaches him the ways of his revolution. Along with the young Mexican Joel and Driss, a Moroccan about to be deported, Xabi dramatically escapes from prison and hitches a ride to Madrid. On the hunt for his revolutionary former lover, Xabi picks up a trick at a mall, steals his gun and then breaks into the empty apartment the two shared. Xabi sets up a small bomb factory in the apartment, where he plans a terrorist act as a way to attract his teacher and push forward the cause of the Basque nation. Meanwhile, the other two boys meet girls, who figure out what’s going on and call the cops. With plenty of hot Spanish eye candy and a rapidly moving tale, Clandestinos is one of the most enjoyable films in the Festival. (Scott Cranin, Philadelphia Intl Gay & Lesbian FF 2008)

Antonio Hens
Born in Cordoba, Spain in 1969. Studied English at Granada University and film direction at ECAM, the official film school in Madrid. He currently works as a TV director. His film work includes films for television, scriptwriting and shorts. His short Malas Compañias (Doors Cut Down) became the most awarded Spanish short of the year 2000 and was elected as the best Spanish short of its decade by Canal+ Spain.

Films (Selection):
Los novios búlgaros (Bulgarian Lovers), Malas Compañias (Doors Cut Down, short).

www.clandestinos.es