Advent

On a deserted beach, the echo of an absence draws a young man
into mystery, desire, and an intimate search for identity.

Technical details | Advent | Short film

Original title: Ad-vientu
English title: Advent
Written and directed by: Roberto F. Canuto, Xu Xiaoxi
Producers: José Manuel González-Fierro Santos, Francisco Javier González-Fierro Santos, Natalia Fernández Canuto, Beatriz Meré
Cinematography: Xu Xiaoxi
Music: Andrea Centazzo
Cast: David Soto Giganto, Ici Díaz, Lidia Méndez, Beatriz Meré, David Blanka
 Spain, China  2016  19’ 52"  color  asturian

 english, spanish, french, italian, dutch, chinese

 fiction, drama  mystery, lgbtq+, identity

 DCP · Digital HD · 2.35:1 · Stereo (2.0)
SYNOPSIS

Suso, a young unemployed man with no direction or prospects, encounters a mysterious woman on a deserted beach. Dressed in antique clothing and seemingly out of time, she warns him of an imminent danger before throwing herself into the sea from a cliff.

Tormented by his own image, Suso begins a desperate search for answers that stirs buried memories… and reveals the truth of his hidden identity.

As his inner conflict intensifies, the woman becomes a reflection of his repressed self: the voice of a truth silenced by fear and social conventions.

COMMENTARY

Shot entirely in Asturias and spoken in the Asturian language—an uncommon choice in Spanish cinema—Advent blends psychological drama, mystery and fantasy to explore gender identity, repression and personal rebirth.

Set against the breathtaking coastal landscapes of northern Spain, the film unfolds as a meditation on solitude, memory and transformation. Through a symbolic and poetic language, it addresses themes such as suicide, denial and rebirth, immersing the viewer in a dreamlike atmosphere where the boundaries between the physical and the spiritual begin to blur.

Produced independently and without institutional support, the film was made possible thanks to the dedication of a committed team of Asturian performers and technicians. It features an original score by Italian-American composer Andrea Centazzo, which enhances its emotional depth and introspective tone.