, shown here in 2013.|alt=Photograph of a 5-storeys building with 4 windows per story, shot from a square. It has a 4-storeys building on the left. A street leaving the square separates the hotel from a representative building. The entrance of the hotel is crowned by a sign "HOTEL (four stars) ASTURIAS" and three flags The film tells the story of Antonio Albajara, a renowned Spanish writer who returns to his hometown after 40 years, triggering memories of his past and exploring themes of love, loss, and personal fulfillment. The film opens with Antonio Albajara (played by Antonio Ferrandis), a Nobel Prize-winning writer, embarking on a journey back to his roots in his hometown of
Gijón, revisiting the places and people that shaped his early years. Now, decades later, Antonio reconnects with old friends and acquaintances. He encounters Elena (played by Encarna Paso), a woman with whom he who was once in love and for whom he has carried a torch all these years. Their reunion sparks a renewed connection and rekindles their long-held feelings. The plot also connects Antonio's exile and life abroad with the Spanish political events during the mid-20th century, and the impact of
the dictatorship of Francisco Franco in the life of
those that left the country at the end of the 1930s. A phone conversation with
King Juan Carlos I at the beginning of the movie represents
the new openness of Spain after the death of Franco in 1975. Throughout the film, Antonio's relationship with Elena is a central thread. They navigate their complicated history and the possibilities of starting anew. The film explores the deep bond and unfulfilled love between the two characters, as they grapple with their shared memories and the choices they made. ==Cast==