Speak Sunlight

Set mainly in Pamplona in 1965, Speak Sunlight follows American writer Alan Jolis as he wakes to a heightened sensual awareness and matures emotionally while living abroad. The film observes his routine, his attempts to write, and the slow shifts in how he sees people and streets around him. Alan's encounters with figures like Maruja, Manolo and Ronalda pry open new feelings, and his relationships move between curiosity, desire and uncertainty. Scenes linger on small rituals, meals, music and moments of silence, suggesting memory more than straightforward plot. The story stays tethered to his perspective, showing how an outsider's attention can reshape private creativity and public ties without clear resolutions. It balances intimate observation with subtle social commentary and restraint.

Released in 2023, Speak Sunlight was directed by Carol Polakoff and created by Alan Jolis, John Milarky and Natxo López, filmed largely in Pamplona to evoke 1965 Spain, and features Carmen Machi, Karra Elejalde and Matteo Artuñedo in prominent roles.

Public and critical response has been limited, with few mainstream reviews, but viewers highlight themes of sensual awakening, artistic ambition, memory and the cultural tension between an outsider and the small town he inhabits. Many note the film's deliberate pacing, intimate camerawork and focus on personal recollection over plot mechanics.

While not widely known internationally, the film has prompted discussion in Spanish film circles about its period detail and portrayal of 1960s Pamplona, and it's been praised for performances by Carmen Machi and Karra Elejalde. Its visual focus on everyday rituals has inspired essays and festival panels in cinema communities.

Box office figures and budget are not widely reported, and the film appears to have had a modest theatrical run focused on regional markets and festival screenings, with distribution concentrated in Spain rather than a broad international commercial release overall.