Year of Enlightment

Set in April 1940 following the Spanish Civil War, the story follows two brothers, Manolo and Jesus, who are sent to a tuberculosis sanatorium near the Portuguese border. As a sixteen-year-old among much younger children, Manolo navigates the strict environment of the facility, which is managed by a falangist. While adjusting to life under the care of various staff members, Manolo experiences a sexual awakening and develops a deep, lasting romantic connection with a local girl named Maria Jesus.

The film was directed by Fernando Trueba, marking the start of a directorial chronology that includes later works such as Belle Époque and Bajañí. The screenplay was a collaboration between Trueba and Rafael Azcona, and the production was handled by Andrés Vicente Gómez through Iberoamericana Films Producción. The cast features Jorge Sanz in the lead role of Manolo, alongside Verónica Forqué, Maribel Verdú, Rafaela Aparicio, Santiago Ramos, and Chus Lampreave.

Released in 1986, the drama has received a generally positive response from viewers. On IMDb, it holds a rating of 6.8/10 based on 1,200 votes, while it has a rating of 6/10 on TMDB from 23 votes.