The story serves as a journey through Spain's recent past, touching on political rebellion and the collective hysteria surrounding the AIDS epidemic.
As Hugo nears death in a hospital in 1996, Olalla suddenly disappears, leaving her husband Josep and Hugo’s love, Helena , in a desperate search that forces everyone to confront years of unspoken truths. Key Themes
After contracting VIH (HIV) at a time when the disease was shrouded in social stigma and medical uncertainty, Hugo chooses to remain silent about his condition for twelve years. He believes this silence is a "generous" act to shield his loved ones from suffering, though it ultimately isolates him.
Olalla, who suffered from polio as a child and was always supported by Hugo, finds her world shattered when she finally learns the truth about her brother’s terminal illness.
