spotlight
A Love
ThAT DAre
NoT SpeAk ITS NAme
An InTErvIEW WITh LittLe Ashes STAr
JAvIer BeLTrÁN
by bill biss
Exploring artistic and sexual freedom in the Madrid of the early 1920s, the renowned poet Federico Garcia Lorca and surrealist artist
of the bizarre, Salvador Dalí, created a bond together that is not completely understood to this day. The new film Little Ashes delves into
their meeting, relationship and experiences as the two challenge ethics, art and morality in the period right before the Spanish Civil War.
Javier Beltrán portrays Lorca, a gay man who discovers in Dalí, played by twilight’s robert Pattinson, a kindred spirit of friendship
that leads to the ignition of mutually intense and passionate feelings. This pseudo-love affair takes on a life of its own as the two
become closer to each other. Will they or won’t they acknowledge these feelings in a sexual way? Take a cinematic journey to the
Spain of 90 years ago as director Paul Morrison paints a canvas of emotional intensity of this little-known love story between two
artists. Little Ashes opens at the Landmark regent Theatre in Los Angeles on May 8 and the Landmark’s Ken Cinema in San Diego
on June 5. the Rage Monthly had the opportunity to ask 25-year old Javier Beltrán a few questions about his first feature-film role,
what the experience of making the film was like and recreating one of Spain’s most-loved poets. Javier Beltrán, having just recently
appeared on the cover of OUt magazine, is a relatively unknown actor from Barcelona who gained attention for his role on the
Spanish television series called Zoo.
Rage: Did you know who Federico Garcia Lorca was before playing him in a film? to explain stories just like artists. I like it – I enjoy my profession.
Javier Beltrán: Yes, of course, Lorca is one of the most important literary figures
in Spain. I studied him in primary school and at the university. I’ve always been Rage: Playing a repressed gay man in Little Ashes, what did you learn about yourself in the
enchanted by his work. In Spain, everybody knows Lorca’s story as well as his process and what did you take away as an actor from this film that improves your craft?
tragic ending. Every year there are several productions of his plays at the theater, JB: My experience to date has been in the theatre. Working in film requires dif-
and always the theaters are full. ferent techniques and this is a continual learning experience. The technique I used
to prepare was a normal one. I worked a lot before starting to shoot—reading the
Rage: Is this your feature film debut and how did you find out about this part? script again and again, reading Lorca’s poems and some biographies about him...
JB: Yes, it’s my film debut – a really good opportunity. It was a pleasure for me to It was hard work. When I’m shooting I just need a few minutes to concentrate. For
play Lorca. I had four auditions for the part. It was very hard!...it was worth it. me it’s very important to work with all the team: actors, director, camera... We all
have the same goal, the same intention: to shoot a good film.
Rage: Where was the film primarily shot? Working in the theatre you use your whole body, your movements are differ-
JB: The film was shot near Barcelona, in Barcelona and in Cadaqués, where Dalí ent, your voice is changed, your expression is bigger. You know this moment is
was born and lived. unique, you can’t repeat the take, it’s alive, with the audience in front of you. That’s
the difference between theatre and films. In front of the camera your work is more
Rage: Why did you decide to pursue a career as an actor? natural, it depends on the frame, your expression, your movements have to be
JB: I wanted to be an actor because I think I have the need to express something, different. You can’t feel the audience, you are playing for a camera, with all your
42 RAGE monthly | MAY 2009
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