The filmmaker Javier Polo has made the leap to fiction feature film this Wednesday in the Official Selection Out of Competition at the Festival de Málaga with ‘Pequeños calvarios’ (Small Calvaries), a black comedy that turns the most absurd obsessions into a delirious game. With a solid trajectory in documentary and a presence at prestigious festivals, such as IDFA and SXSW, Polo is now venturing into fiction with a style that reinforces his unmistakable stamp: a mixture of surrealism, colour and extravagance that is already a trademark of the Polo Brothers.

At the centre of the story, a mysterious watchmaker seems to have the ability to alter the fate of those who cross his path. As he adjusts gears and winds his clocks, he pushes the watches’ owners into extreme situations, forcing them to confront their own manias until they lose control of their chaotic lives. This is the premise of ‘Pequeños calvarios’ (Small Calvaries), a film with a pop-art aesthetic and hyperrealist tone that explores human obsessions from a comical and disconcerting perspective.

Polo is committed to creating a collective narrative with a stellar cast that includes Pablo Molinero, Andrea Duro, Vito Sanz, Marta Belenguer, Enrique Arce, Arturo Valls, Berta Vázquez, Javier Coronas and Mamen García, to name but a few. During the official presentation of the film, the director defined it as "a rogue comedy where the characters go through different ordeals with an aesthetic that is unusual in Spanish cinema”. Actress Andrea Duro and actors Arturo Valls, Javier Coronas, Pablo Molinero and Enrique Arce were also present at the Festival de Málaga.

Produced by Los Hermanos Polo Films, Japonica Films, Paloma Negra Films and Whisky Content, ‘Pequeños calvarios’ (Small Calvaries) combines dark humour, absurd situations and eccentric characters in an offering that evokes the influence of filmmakers like the Coen brothers, masters of fusing comedy and tragedy in surreal contexts.

The script, written by David Pascual, Enric Pardo and Guillermo Guerrero, is based on short stories inspired by everyday obsessions, personal anecdotes and experiences narrated by the Polo brothers' father, a psychiatrist by profession.

As for the production challenges, Polo acknowledges that gaining financing was, ironically, “a bit of an ordeal”. However, thanks to efficient resource management and the support of their production partners, they were able to achieve a visual result that far exceeded budgetary constraints. As this is his first fiction film, he has found fundamental support in his technical and artistic team, with whom he has created an original offering that he hopes will find its place among Spanish audiences. In his opinion, they have achieved “a brave film, with personality and with that rogue character that defines us Valencians”.

Arturo Valls praised Polo's ability to “bring together the five stories that converge in the plot and, from those little ordeals that we all have, to convey something important with that rhythm, that tone and that special aesthetic that Javier has”.

In Polo's words, “returning to the Festival 11 years later and working with such an established cast of actors has been an incredibly enriching experience”. Taking about the cast’s experience, he acknowledged: “At the beginning I was imposing, but they made it very easy for me. They have been able to make the characters their own with a naturalness and talent that have elevated the film to another level”.

With this release, the director carries on his commitment to fiction and his desire to continue exploring new narratives. He claims to have several projects under development which he hopes to launch later this year. “In order to experiment, it's important not to get stuck in your cinematic references,” said Polo, emphasising his intention to expand his creative universe.