Little Ashes

''Little Ashes'' is a 2008 Spanish-British biographical drama film directed by Paul Morrison and written by Philippa Goslett. Set in Spain during the 1920s and 1930s, the film dramatizes the early years of three prominent figures in 20th-century art and literature: filmmaker Luis Buñuel, surrealist painter Salvador Dalí, and poet Federico García Lorca. The narrative focuses on the complex relationship between Dalí and Lorca, exploring themes of identity, artistic ambition, and forbidden love.

The film premiered at the 16th Raindance Film Festival in London on October 7, 2008, and was released theatrically in the United States on May 8, 2009. Despite drawing attention for its subject matter and performances—particularly Pattinson’s portrayal of Dalí—it received mixed reviews from critics. The film grossed approximately $481,586 in the United States and $104,991 in Spain, culminating in a worldwide total of $767,567 against a production budget of €2.5 million.

At the 21st GLAAD Media Awards, the film won the award for Outstanding Film – Limited Release.

Plot

In 1922, 18-year-old Salvador Dalí arrives at the Residencia de Estudiantes in Madrid, an institution known for cultivating Spain's most promising intellectuals and artists. Determined to achieve greatness, Dalí soon forms a close bond with poet Federico García Lorca and aspiring filmmaker Luis Buñuel. The trio emerges as the nucleus of Madrid's avant-garde artistic scene.

As their creative lives flourish, tensions develop in their personal relationships. Federico begins to distance himself from Magdalena, a writer who harbors romantic feelings for him, while his connection with Dalí grows increasingly intimate. Buñuel, uncomfortable with their closeness, chooses to pursue his ambitions in Paris, leaving Dalí and Lorca to spend the summer together in Cadaqués at the Dalí family home.

Their friendship deepens into a romantic relationship, though its future remains uncertain. Buñuel returns for a visit and becomes increasingly uneasy about the nature of their bond. Struggling with his own identity and ambitions, Dalí eventually leaves for Paris, where he immerses himself in high society and begins a relationship with Gala, a married woman with a fascination for fame.

When Lorca later visits Dalí, he finds a man transformed—politically detached and emotionally distant—leaving their past connection irreparably altered.

Cast

Background

The nature of the relationship between Salvador Dalí and Federico García Lorca has long been the subject of scholarly debate and public speculation. ''Little Ashes'' presents their bond as an emotionally intense and romantic connection that Dalí, depicted as sexually repressed, is ultimately unable to consummate.

Between 1925 and 1936, Dalí and Lorca exchanged a substantial volume of letters, which offer insight into the depth of their friendship. The Fundación Federico García Lorca in Madrid houses many of Dalí’s letters to Lorca, while the Fundació Gala-Salvador Dalí in Púbol preserves several of Lorca’s letters, alongside others held in private collections. It is widely accepted among biographers that Lorca was infatuated with Dalí. However, Dalí publicly denied a romantic or sexual relationship, despite acknowledging Lorca’s affections.

Dalí later remarked:

Philippa Goslett, who wrote the screenplay for ''Little Ashes'', stated in interviews that she believed the relationship did move beyond friendship:

Ian Gibson, a biographer of both men, expressed skepticism over the physical extent of their relationship, stating:

The repressive social and political climate of Spain in the 1930s made open expressions of homosexuality perilous. Lorca’s sexual orientation is believed to have been a factor in his execution by Nationalist forces in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War. Biographer Leslie Stainton has suggested that remarks made by his assassins referenced his sexuality.

Production

The title of the film ''Little Ashes'' is derived from Salvador Dalí's 1927–28 painting ''Cenicitas'' (Spanish for "Little Ashes"). This artwork, created during Dalí's early explorations of surrealism, underwent several title changes: initially named ''The Birth of Venus'', then ''Sterile Efforts'', before settling on ''Cenicitas''.The Shameful life of Salvador Dalí p 162 It was first exhibited on 20 March 1929 in Madrid and later featured in Dalí's solo exhibition in Paris in June 1931.''Salvador Dalí: An Illustrated Life,'' Tate Publishing The painting is part of the collection at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Madrid.

''Cenicitas'' reflects Dalí's experimentation with surrealist themes, blending classical motifs with dreamlike imagery. Its evocative title and themes resonate with the film's exploration of the complex relationship between Dalí and poet Federico García Lorca.

Release

''Little Ashes'' had its world premiere at the 16th Raindance Film Festival in London, with a sold-out screening on 7 October 2008, followed by an added screening on 8 October due to demand. The film made its U.S. debut at the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival before receiving a limited theatrical release on 8 May 2009 in 11 locations across the United States.

The film was released on DVD in the United Kingdom on 13 July 2009, rated 15 by the British Board of Film Classification. The U.S. DVD release followed on 26 January 2010.

Critical reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, ''Little Ashes'' holds a "Rotten" rating of 24% based on 70 reviews, with an average rating of 4.2/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "It has a beautiful cast, but ''Little Ashes'' suffers from an uneven tone and a surplus of unintentionally silly moments." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 41 out of 100 based on 20 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews."

Steven Rea of ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' described the film as “a bravely earnest and gauzy bit of biography,” praising its visual aesthetic and ambition despite its narrative shortcomings. Roger Ebert of the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' gave the film a moderate review, calling it “absorbing but not compelling.” He noted that “most of its action is inward,” focusing more on emotion and implication than plot. ''The New York Times'' highlighted the film’s speculative interpretation of Dalí and Lorca’s relationship as both “its strength and its weakness,” recognizing its attempt to humanize two towering historical figures through emotional intimacy.

Xan Brooks of ''The Guardian'' called the film “a discreet, diffident film about the rumored love affair between tyro artists Salvador Dalí and Federico García Lorca,” acknowledging its restraint but implying a lack of dramatic engagement. Ty Burr of ''The Boston Globe'' criticized the film's tone, stating, “What’s intended to be a daring look at repressed sexuality, three-ways and all, has the dramatic heft of a true-love comic book.” Greg Quill of the ''Toronto Star'' praised Adam Suschitzky’s cinematography but found the overall production lacking: “Even cinematographer Adam Suschitzky’s richly textured and resonantly toned cityscapes and rural scenes can’t make up for a flawed script and weak performances in what might have been a powerful historical drama.”

''Empire'' offered a lukewarm assessment, noting that Robert Pattinson “throws himself into the role” but that “the film’s po-faced solemnity stifles what could have been a genuinely radical queer period drama.” ''Common Sense Media'' rated the film two out of five stars, criticizing its “melodramatic” tone and uneven pacing, though noting its educational value for mature audiences interested in LGBTQ+ history.

Chris Hewitt of the '' St. Paul Pioneer Press'' wrote, “The movie, with its badly painted backdrops, its stiff acting and its complete lack of dramatic momentum, is embarrassing to watch.” ''Slant Magazine'' was particularly harsh, describing ''Little Ashes'' as “broadstroked filmmaking at its most tedious,” and criticizing the film’s pacing and tonal inconsistency.

References

Further reading

"Were Spain's Two Artistic Legends Secret Gay Lovers?", ''The Guardian'' (28 October 2007)

Aria film synopsis
* George E. Haggerty, ''Gay Histories and Cultures''
* Ian Gibson, ''The Shameful Life of Salvador Dalí''
* ''Salvador Dalí: An Illustrated Life'', Tate Publishing

External links

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{{GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Film – Limited Release

2008 films
2008 biographical drama films
Biographical films about artists
Biographical films about painters
Biographical films about poets
Films about male bisexuality
British biographical drama films
British LGBTQ-related films
2000s English-language films
Films shot in Barcelona
British independent films
Cultural depictions of Salvador Dalí
Cultural depictions of Federico García Lorca
Cultural depictions of Luis Buñuel
Spanish independent films
English-language Spanish films
Gay-related films
2008 drama films
Films directed by Paul Morrison (director)
2000s British films
2008 LGBTQ-related films
English-language biographical drama films