The Lame Pigeon (1995)

The Lame Pigeon (Spanish: El palomo cojo) is a 1995 Spanish drama film written and directed by Jaime de Armiñán, based on the eponymous novel by Eduardo Mendicutti published in 1991. It stars María Barranco, Francisco Rabal, Carmen Maura and Miguel Ángel Muñoz. It is a coming of age story of a ten-year-old boy sent to the house of his maternal grandparents, which is full of eccentric characters. The boy has to deal with the realization of his sexual identity. The title makes reference to the analogy of a lame pigeon with homosexuality. The film is an exploration of class and sexual identity in Andalusia, Spain, in the 1950s.

Synopsis

In 1958, Felipe, a ten year old boy, is sent by his mother to spend the summer with his maternal relatives in Sanlúcar de Barrameda while he recuperates his frail health. His grandparents are wealthy and live in a vast residence that serves as the center that reunites a large family and many visitors. The house is dominated by the frequent howls of the boy's ancient great-grandmother, who is senile and is taken care by Adoración, a strict nurse, who endures the old woman's endlessly repeated recollection of the four bandoleros who killed each other for her love.

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