Ulises Porra’s Historical Drama ‘Bajo el mismo sol’ Debuts at TEA Tenerife

Ulises Porra is emerging as a fresh voice in Spanish cinema, known for his thoughtful approach to historical storytelling. The TEA Tenerife Espacio de las Artes is currently hosting the debut of his feature film, Bajo el mismo sol (Under the Same Sun). Screenings are held daily at 7:00 p.m. through this Sunday.

Following successful appearances at prestigious festivals like San Sebastián and Toronto, the film examines power and identity in the 19th century. Set in 1819, the story follows a Spanish businessman’s attempt to launch a silk industry in Hispaniola. Through the characters of Lázaro, a silk expert named Mei, and a deserter named Baptiste, the film explores the tensions of colonial expansion and cultural clashes.

More than just a historical drama, the film is a study of how greed and betrayal can cause human ambitions to crumble. Starring David Castillo, Jean-Jean, and Valentina Shen Wu, the story uses the silk trade as a metaphor for the fleeting nature of wealth and the high human cost of imperial projects.

By revisiting colonial history through a modern lens, Porra moves beyond traditional narratives to focus on the psychology of his characters. The screenings in Tenerife offer a chance to see how contemporary cinema uses the past to challenge today’s social structures, marking Porra as a filmmaker to watch.