Best friends Reinier and Yosvani live a life almost completely devoid of comfort in Havana, Cuba. At the age of eighteen, the two can barely be considered adults, and yet they are forced to face both internal and external demons on a daily basis—external in that they are deeply entrenched in poverty; internal in that both are struggling with their sexual identity.

The one place where Reinier and Yosvani have everything figured out is the soccer field. Soccer promises Reinier a possible escape from economic hardship. This escape is complicated by his developing feelings for Yosvani and his gambling, which manifests during nightly visits to Havana’s seawall, the Malecón.

“La Partida” or “the game” refers directly to soccer, but through brilliant wordplay, the title’s secondary meaning alludes to an imminent “departure.” Antonio Hens’ La Partida explores socioeconomic challenges combined with heterosexism. The film depicts machismo and the toll it takes on the mental and physical wellbeing of the main characters and by extension on Hispanic men who struggle with their sexual orientation.