El cónsul de Sodoma

Manila, 1959. Charismatic Jaime Gil de Biedma (30) is a director of the Philippine Tobacco Company during the day…. but at night, the poet gives free reign to his homosexuality in the nightclubs of the city’s underbelly. This is how he meets Johnny, a young man who works in an erotic cabaret. The poverty of Manila makes a deep impression on Jaime and heightens his social conscience. Back in Barcelona, the Spanish police interrogate Jaime about some of his subversive friends who are still dreaming of regime change in Spain. He visits his friend and editor Carlos Barral, and meets Juan Marsé, a young writer about to publish his first novel. At the same time as all of this, Jaime is trying to save his relationship with Luis, his lover, but the latter leaves him. Jaime’s father takes care of Jaime’s trouble with the police, but he warns his son he has to sort his life out because he is putting his family and the business in jeopardy.
By the mid 1960’s, society is increasingly becoming unstable and a new generation is meeting in the Bocaccio nightclub. There, Jaime meets the sexy and enigmatic Bel (28), divorced with two kids and with whom he quickly establishes a relationship. Jaime has bought an apartment and asks Bel to marry him, but she turns him down: they are two free spirits; getting married would condemn their relationship to failure. Overwhelmed by events, Jaime loses himself in the night and gets very drunk. That same night, Bel dies in a traffic accident. When he hears the news, Jaime becomes totally desperate and tries to take his own life. But he manages to get back on his feet with the support of friends and family. However, Jaime he will never write poetry again.
At the beginning of the 1970’s, Jaime goes to the Philippines and has to deal with the economic changes which the company is going through under the Marcos dictatorship. On his return, Jaime meets Toni, a young photography assistant of humble background, and they begin a sentimental relationship. Toni, for his part, insists on learning all he can from Jaime and asks him to introduce him into his sophisticated world, unknown to him. Jaime’s dad dies and events pile up on each other; the growing tension between Jaime and Toni leads to a violent confrontation in the country house which Jaime has bought as their love nest. Toni throws him out, and Jaime trips and is injured in the snow. After the death of Franco, democracy is restored in Spain and a mature Jaime lives out his days with a young stage actor. The passing of time and illness have left their mark on him. His friends, who know that Jaime is dying, organise a poetry recital in the Residencia de Estudiantes (Madrid’s famous Students Residence) which turns into a public acclamation of the poet. But Jaime only wants to say goodbye. (Rodeo Media)