Part bloodsport drama, part desperate call-to-action, EL NOVILLERO is a powerful, rhythm-driven short documentary on the nature of bullfighting. EL NOVILLERO traces the journey of handsome 17-year-old bullfighter Francisco Martinez from aspiring hero to accomplished victor — even as it reveals other, darker truths emerging from that transformation. Charged with empathy and laced with imagery both shockingly graphic and beautifully nostalgic, EL NOVILLERO shies away neither from the charisma and heroism of the young man, nor the graphic indignity suffered by the terrified and confused young bull. EL NOVILLERO is a film to be seen by anyone interested in humanity’s relationship to brutal spectacle.