The Consul of Sodom

The narrative unfolds across the late 1950s through the 1960s and 1970s in Spain and the Philippines, culminating in the early 1990s. It situates Franco-era Spain—with political pressure and class tensions—alongside Marcos-era Philippines, reflecting power dynamics and social change. The timeline traces a poet’s aging, missed opportunities, and evolving relationships against a changing cultural backdrop.

Manila is depicted as a bustling port city where poverty sits beside wealth, shaping Jaime's social conscience during his business trip. The Philippines' capital provides the backdrop for nightclubs and stark social contrasts. In later sections, Barcelona and Madrid serve as the home base and backdrop for his bohemian life and final years.

🏳️‍🌈 Identity and sexuality

Jaime's sexual orientation and private desires run through Manila and Barcelona, challenging social norms of the era. His relationships with Bel, Luis, and Toni reveal a man torn between public status and private freedom. The police interrogations and the restraint on his political affiliations amplify the costs of living openly. The film treats sexuality as a driving force in art, life, and social judgment.

💼 Class and conscience

Jaime’s position within a wealthy Barcelona family contrasts with his intimate connections to people of humble backgrounds. This tension reveals a conflicted conscience as he navigates love, loyalty, and duty to his family business. The Philippines trip and his literary circle highlight class dynamics in both social and artistic spheres. The narrative uses personal bonds to critique power, privilege, and responsibility.

⏳ Time and aging

The story traces the arc from youthful exuberance to aging and reflection. Jaime’s poetry grows heavier with the weight of time, missed chances, and mortality. Scenes of celebration give way to illness, memory, and the question of what remains meaningful. Time is treated as both theater and judge, shaping perception of the self.

🎨 Art and memory

Jaime’s life intertwines with a vibrant literary milieu, where writers like Barral and Marsé influence and illuminate his world. The act of writing and the poetry recital become acts of memory, defiance, and legacy. The AIDS diagnosis forces a re-evaluation of art, fame, and mortality, recasting past experiences as material for memory. The film uses poetry to illuminate how life, art, and memory feed one another.