Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

The Shadow of the Sun

Play trailer Poster for The Shadow of the Sun 2025 1h 38m Comedy Drama Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
Tomatometer 3 Reviews 100% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Leo (Carlos Manuel Gonzalez) is a blue-collar worker with a musical past living in the remote city of Acarigua, nestled in the Venezuelan inland empire. Haunted by financial debt and problems at home, he does anything to stay afloat. One day, his younger brother Alex (Anyelo Lopez) who has been deaf since birth, offers him a solution: to participate in a musical contest in the capital, Caracas, performing a song that he has written himself, because the first prize may solve all his economic problems. Forced by circumstance, Leo must take a leap of faith, unearth his dormant musical talent, and do the impossible to change his and his brother's future by joining their voices in an unforgettable journey.

Critics Reviews

View More
William Schwartz Book & Film Globe Jan 24
The Shadow of the Sun is convincing despite the million reasons it could fail, mainly because it’s a mid-life crisis film except without the wallowing self-centeredness that art about that subject tends to imply Go to Full Review
Allison Rose FlickDirect Aug 19
4/5
A feel good tale that doesn’t end as the audience may originally hope but is still satisfying overall. Go to Full Review
Luis Bond Diario las Américas Aug 15
4/5
A local story that opens up to the entire world by touching on archetypal themes such as redemption, filial bonds, rejection, prejudice, bullying, and the search for meaning and identity through art [Full Review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
J F Aug 10 Beautiful film. Fantastic production all around. Bravo! See more Ethan D Jan 15 A fantastic film with a bittersweet message. If we truly were able to give voices to the unheard, I can’t imagine how much better the world could be. There’s talent and beauty everywhere, if we choose to look for it. See more Sean R @SP_Rowe Jan 13 In a time when the vast majority of films are soulless and empty, 'The Shadow of the Sun' shines brightly from the void. Beautifully photographed, it carries smart character development, a strong heart, and genuine emotional depth. Set in Venezuela, its themes of rediscovering artistic empowerment and pursuing one’s dreams are truly universal. The cast and setting make the film feel real and lived-in—a rare feat in an era when larger productions rely on spectacle alone. See it because it’s one of the best films to come out in some time. Respect it because of the sheer logistical feat involved: these filmmakers successfully executed an underground film in Venezuela, under an authoritarian regime, in just two weeks. This movie is one hell of a feat. See more Victor M @VictorM Jan 11 The Shadow of the Sun is a great example of the kind of relevant stories international films can bring into the fold of the film industry. With a seemingly sotto voce approach, the film takes you on a very intimate journey about what it's like to feel out of place, different, and ambitious beyond what you ever believed you deserve. With a clear, focused yet not heavy-handed direction, Miguel Ferrer gifts us the landscape of rural parts of Venezuela, its culture, and its people, and allows us to pay attention to the characters. This film appeals to the part of our spirit that dares to dream, but also knows what it is like to feel jaded by the slings and arrows of living. All of this brought together by the language of music, and how the hunger for expression remains limitless, universal, and capable of bringing us together to experience each other's humanity, whether you can fully understand it, or simply feel it through the vibration of intention. See more Omar L @olugones Jan 10 "The Shadow of the Sun" is a beautiful and powerful reminder of the humanity that binds us all. Everyone longs for—and deserves—the chance at a better life. While that opportunity is denied to many, the right to dream can never be taken away, nor should it be. The human spirit is stronger than any oppressor. The film is also a testament to Miguel Ferrer, who overcame a myriad of challenges and obstacles to meticulously craft a truly gorgeous piece of cinema. "The Shadow of the Sun" stands as a love letter to resilience—to the people of Venezuela, and to anyone, anywhere, who has ever dared to dream. See more Marysela Z @MaryselaZamora Jan 9 This is a beautiful film. Enjoy! See more Read all reviews
The Shadow of the Sun

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Movie Info

Synopsis Leo (Carlos Manuel Gonzalez) is a blue-collar worker with a musical past living in the remote city of Acarigua, nestled in the Venezuelan inland empire. Haunted by financial debt and problems at home, he does anything to stay afloat. One day, his younger brother Alex (Anyelo Lopez) who has been deaf since birth, offers him a solution: to participate in a musical contest in the capital, Caracas, performing a song that he has written himself, because the first prize may solve all his economic problems. Forced by circumstance, Leo must take a leap of faith, unearth his dormant musical talent, and do the impossible to change his and his brother's future by joining their voices in an unforgettable journey.
Director
Miguel Ángel Ferrer
Producer
Maritza Carbajal
Screenwriter
Miguel Ángel Ferrer, Guillermo De La Rosa
Production Co
Magic Films, Multi Studios
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Adventure
Original Language
Spanish
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 5, 2025, Limited
Runtime
1h 38m