Un hombre libre

'Un hombre libre' is a documentary that explores the life and work of Agustín Gómez Arcos, the Spanish writer who was forced into exile due to Francoism. In the 1970s, he achieved great success in French literature while in Spain his name remained silenced. His works have been translated into more than twelve languages and, through them, he addressed themes such as democratic memory and identity.

The six-time finalist for the Goncourt Prize has been rediscovered by new generations who have come to appreciate his legacy, which invites reflection on the recent history of our country through silences, the stories that have been lost, and the role of memory and culture. He wrote his novels in French, the language in which he took refuge after being censored in his homeland. In them, he tackled themes such as democratic memory, feminism, and sexual and gender identity.

Despite being one of the most read authors in France, in Spain his name was censored. So much so that, until 2006 when the publisher Cabaret Voltaire began to translate and publish his novels for the first time in Spain, Gómez Arcos was practically unknown.

Laura Hojman, who has a solid career in documentary filmmaking, is in charge of directing this project in which testimonies from people like Pedro Almodóvar and Bob Pop appear. With this feature film, she delves into the story of Agustín Gómez Arcos, the writer from Almería who, although he stood out as a playwright in 1950s Madrid, was pushed into exile by the modernity and freedom of his work.