El Bola (Pellet)

“El Bola”, which is Pablo’s nickname, is a 12-year-old boy living in a poor Madrid working-class neighbourhood, caring for his mother and grandmother while dodging the often violent outbursts of his moody father. Friendless and insecure, he gets in touch with Alfredo, a new boy at school, whose own home life is far different, and far happier, than Pablo’s. Rather than fists and spite, Alfredo’s tattoo-artist father and mother provide the sort of open-minded, happy environment that Pablo can only dream of having. As the two boys’ friendship develops, Alfredo begins to notice the abuse that Pablo lives with, and must decide whether to reveal his friend’s secrets to his parents or the authorities.