El Palomo cojo

The Lame Pigeon Spanish El palomo cojo is a 1995 Spanish drama film written and directed by Jaime de Armin, based on the eponymous novel by Eduardo Mendicutti published in 1991. It stars Mara Barranco, Francisco Rabal, Carmen Maura and Miguel ngel Muoz. It is a coming of age story of a tenyearold boy sent to the house of his maternal grandparents, which is full of eccentric characters. The boy has to deal with the realization of his sexual identity. The title makes reference to the analogy of a lame pigeon with homosexuality. The film is an exploration of class and sexual identity in Andalusia, Spain, in the 1950s.

Pampered on his arrival by the women in the house, Felipe is ordered to stay in bed by the familys doctor. He is installed in the bedroom of his absent uncle Ramn and spends his time reading Little Women. Felipe quickly strikes a close friendship with Mari, the talkative and meddlesome maid. She keeps four lovers on a string, but refuses to let go of her virginity. An expert on mens matters, Mari shamelessly flirts with the boy even when she has the impression that he might be gay. In secrecy, she shows Felipe some items that she has found in uncle Ramns bedroom a suggesting photograph of Ramn in swimming wear revealing his anatomy and a postcard from 1936 signed by someone named Federico that depicts a dog looking at a dove with what Mari describes a lovesick face. The message in the postcard and its image imply that there was a homoerotic relationship between Ramn and Federico. Felipe points out that the picture was taken in the terrace of the bedroom and both Mari and the boy are fascinated by Ramns revealing attire in the photograph.Felipe also befriends Uncle Ricardo, the eccentric brother of the boys grandfather, who trains pigeons and dreams of finding a treasure at sea with his boat. Felipe tells him of Maris believe that lame doves are queers and then inquires his great uncle if he might be queer. Although Ricardo denies it, he does not do so when the boy ask the same question regarding uncle Ramn, evasively responding that he does not longer remembers. ........

Source: Wikipedia