Last Night I Conquered the City of Thebes

ast Night I Conquered the City of Thebes (Spanish: Anoche conquisté Tebas) — Release Date: 28 August 2026 (Spain). Written and directed by Gabriel Azorín, the Spanish drama stars Santiago Mateus, António Martim Gouveia, Oussama Asfaraah, and Pavle Čemerikić. Premiering in the Giornate degli Autori section of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Queer Lion, the film is an intimate meditation on memory, identity, masculinity, and emotional connection across different eras.

Set around the ancient Roman baths of Bande in Galicia’s Ourense province, the narrative unfolds across two parallel timelines separated by centuries. In the present day, young men António and Jota explore the archaeological remains of the historic baths, gradually developing a bond as they navigate questions of friendship, attraction, and emotional vulnerability. Their journey is mirrored by the story of Aurelius and Pompey, two Roman soldiers whose relationship unfolds at the same location during the Roman Empire. By weaving together these two narratives, the film examines how human emotions, intimacy, and the search for belonging transcend time, revealing the enduring connections between past and present. Rather than presenting history as distant, the story uses the shared setting to reflect on universal experiences of love, loneliness, and identity.

Santiago Mateus stars as António, alongside António Martim Gouveia as Jota. Oussama Asfaraah portrays Aurelius, while Pavle Čemerikić plays Pompey, creating a parallel emotional narrative set during the Roman era. Through restrained performances and minimalistic storytelling, the ensemble brings depth to characters connected across centuries by the same physical space and shared emotional experiences.

Writer-director Gabriel Azorín crafts a contemplative drama that blends historical reflection with contemporary coming-of-age themes. Centered on the symbolic significance of the Roman baths, the film explores masculinity, intimacy, memory, and queer identity through a poetic visual style rather than conventional historical spectacle. Following its acclaimed premiere at the 2025 Venice International Film Festival, the film continued its festival journey at Seminci (Valladolid International Film Festival), where it received the Fundos Special Award, before winning the Grand Prize at the Belfort Entrevues International Film Festival.

Combining historical reflection with contemporary drama, Last Night I Conquered the City of Thebes explores the timeless nature of human relationships and emotional intimacy across generations. The film is scheduled for a theatrical release in Spain on 28 August 2026.