Saturn Return

A man and a woman walk away from a ski slope in Granada as he reproaches her for quitting the band Los Planetas. The moment frames the conflict that drives the retrospective story. She hints that what follows will be her version of events.

May recalls that the tour and band dynamics were different from what the singer believes. She notes that, at age 27, while the others wanted to release an album, she simply wanted to depart. This sets up the basis for her perspective on the split.

The guitarist strums chords for the singer during a television appearance, while the performance relies on pre-recorded music. His escalating substance use adds tension as the team navigates the shot and the show’s expectations.

The singer and guitarist push for their third album to be recorded in New York City, despite the reluctance of the Madrid-based label. They argue that NYC represents the creative breakthrough they crave.

The band searches for a drummer and a bassist to complete the lineup. They eventually find a drummer who reflects on Granada's musical scene, adding local flavor to the new project.

After a gig, the guitarist experiences hallucinations and fantasies about NYC and the band’s future. These visions reveal his fixation on the city and its promised success.

May begins a university degree and has a casual encounter with the guitarist. The scene hints at unresolved feelings and competing paths for the two musicians.

A mishap after a gig leaves the guitarist in hospital with his hands bandaged. The incident interrupts the band’s momentum and raises questions about the timeline.

With a full lineup, the group struggles to meet creative deadlines and satisfy the label’s expectations. Tension grows as they push to deliver the promised third album.

The guitarist insists that May did not leave because of the accident or its fallout. This challenges the singer’s or viewer’s assumptions about the band’s breakup.

The singer meets with a defiant May at the university, and they share a cigarette on a terrace. The conversation reveals tensions and unresolved feelings about the band’s future.

After attending the same procession, the drummer and guitarist discuss the feasibility of NYC plans. They challenge whether their creative deadlines and the move to NYC are truly attainable.

The guitarist proposes that the trio seclude themselves to focus on meeting the album’s deadlines. The idea signals a decisive shift toward intense, uninterrupted work.

The group presents their progress to the label’s executives, who push the singer to deliver a hit. They also hint that the singer might have to leave the guitarist behind if NYC becomes the path forward.

The singer heads to NYC without the guitarist, who is sent to Madrid for rehab. The guitarist’s memory haunts the singer, who reaches out to invite a reunion in NYC. They eventually meet again in NYC and record the third album, Una semana en el motor de un autobús, with May later receiving a compact disc copy of the album.