DIRECTOR: MIKEL RUEDA.Exploring the point at which race and gender issues overlap, Hidden Away follows the blossoming coming-of-age relationship between young Spaniard Rafa (wide-eyed Germán Alcarazu) and “illegal” Moroccan immigrant, 14 year-old Ibrahim (a very striking Adil Koukouh).
While Rafa’s friends are all walking hormones, noisily trying to fix him up with girls, he instead prefers to start following Ibrahim around the streets of Bilbao and to the hostel for immigrants, where Ibrahim lives. The two attempt to conceal their urges and emotions in awkward ways, as they navigate their way through school and recreation. But soon the twin tyrannies of the schoolyard and a still-racist society will force the boys to the point of desperation where they will risk everything.
A well-selected score of indie-pop tunes provide appropriate accompaniment to this exploration of young love trying to survive in a society where institutions, regulations and expectations deny people the right to be who they are.