Film

Summer in southern Spain. Iván works at a greenhouse farm and is on the verge of being promoted to manager, a move that will give his family a better life. But when Hadoum arrives at the farm as a seasonal worker, old feelings resurface. Iván knows Hadoum from their school days, before Hadoum’s transition. After a night on the beach, their relationship deepens. But Hadoum, who has always had to fight prejudice because of her Moroccan heritage, is also a passionate advocate for workers’ rights at the farm. Iván must decide whose side he’s on and who he truly wants to be. In Iván & Hadoum, Ian de la Rosa tells the story of two outsiders who must break down social barriers to find their way to each other. “A moving, provocative, and unforgettable story,” praised the jury of the Teddy Award—the queer film prize at the Berlinale—which awarded the top prize to Iván & Hadoum.

'Iván & Hadoum' does not dwell in despair. It’s not a film about the suffering of its characters. Instead, it’s a film about hope and a world in which all people can love and be loved without having society’s preconceived notions win out. With the film, de la Rosa is not interested in reducing his characters to their pain but showing how they continue on with aspirations and hope. - International Cinephile Society