The Lame Pigeon

In 1958, Felipe, a frail ten-year-old, is sent to spend the summer with his maternal relatives in Sanlúcar de Barrameda to recover his health. The sprawling residence becomes the hub of social life, drawing in a steady stream of visitors. The house is dominated by the loud, senile cries of Felipe's great-grandmother, who is cared for by Adoración.

The family doctor orders Felipe to rest in bed while he recuperates. He is given the empty bedroom of his absent Uncle Ramón and spends his days reading Little Women. The quiet routine of the house marks the summer as a time of observation rather than adventure.

Pampered by the women in the house, Felipe forms a close friendship with Mari, the talkative maid whose charm masks a calculating worldliness. She flirts with him and uses her position to meddle in his feelings and curiosity. Their growing bond sets the stage for the private revelations and tensions to come.

In secrecy, Mari shows Felipe items from Uncle Ramón's bedroom: a swimsuit photo revealing his anatomy and a 1936 postcard signed by Federico. The image and the message imply a homoerotic relationship between Ramón and Federico. Felipe notes that the photo was taken on the terrace of the bedroom and is intrigued by Ramón's revealing attire.

Felipe befriends Uncle Ricardo, the eccentric brother of the grandfather who trains pigeons and dreams of treasure at sea. He asks Ricardo if he might be queer, and Ricardo evasively avoids confirming Ramón's sexuality while hinting at memories he would rather forget. The conversation deepens the house's atmosphere of secrets and conjecture.

The household is disrupted by the arrival of Reglita, a mature spinster, and Aunt Victoria, a cosmopolitan singer who travels with Luigi, her muscular Italian secretary. Victoria's liberal outlook scandalizes the conservative grandmother but fascinates Reglita. Victoria also shares stories of lovers and shows Mari a valuable ring her admirer gave her.

Victoria's erotic and anti-Franco poetry shocks the neighbors and unsettles the grandmother. The performances illuminate tensions between rigidity and freedom within the house. Mari's curiosity about Victoria's lovers grows, drawing her deeper into the social world beyond her usual confines.

The charismatic Uncle Ramón reclaims his bedroom, intensifying Felipe's and Mari's fascination. He speaks with dangerous charm, asking Felipe what tastes better between a man, a woman, or a young girl. He adds a provocative allusion to Federico, hinting at his own past experiences and leaving Felipe intrigued.

A new upheaval erupts when Luigi elopes with one of Mari's lovers and steals Victoria's ring. In the same surge of change, Felipe's senile great-grandmother dies, leaving the house in a somber mood. The overlapping events push the family into turmoil as the summer deepens.

Mari tells Felipe that he can spy on Ramón at night, but instead she dances naked by his window, holding Victoria's ring. The bold display heightens Felipe's confusion about sexuality and desire. The moment becomes a stark symbol of rebellion against the house's strict norms.

The next day, Felipe accuses Mari of stealing the ring and reveals where she has hidden it. The grandfather fires Mari in response to the theft, ending her time in the household. The event marks a decisive turn in the summer's power dynamics.

Before Mari departs, Felipe goes to her room to try to reconcile and repair their friendship. Meanwhile, Uncle Ramón has left as suddenly as he arrived, leaving a void in the household. Victoria, Felipe and Uncle Ricardo prepare to set out to sea on a treasure-hunting adventure.

Victoria, Felipe and Uncle Ricardo depart by sea, pursuing rumors of treasure across distant waters. The grand residence remains a memory as the trio sails toward the horizon, leaving unresolved questions about love, identity, and freedom. The film closes with a note of possibility and ambiguity about what lies ahead.