Water Circles Under Cotton Clouds (2023) is a Spanish short film by award-winning filmmakers Roberto F. Canuto and Xu Xiaoxi, known for their poetic and socially engaged cinema.
Conceived as a narrative mosaic, the film interweaves multiple storylines that explore resistance, empathy, and the human need for justice in times of fear.

This film is also available as part of the "Visions of Asturias" collection and "The Complete Works: Roberto F. Canuto & Xu Xiaoxi".

Synopsis
In a dystopian future shaped by pandemics and oppressive regimes, a group of young people steals a batch of vaccines.
While some seek profit on the black market, others risk everything to share hope with the forgotten.
As tensions rise, discrimination based on sexuality and ethnicity resurfaces — echoing ghosts of the past.

About the film
Set in a near future where fear and political control deepen inequality, Water Circles Under Cotton Clouds reveals how empathy and love persist amid social collapse.
Through a multi-voiced, symbolic narrative, the film draws parallels between personal repression and collective resistance.

Creative vision
Canuto and Xu craft a lyrical ensemble piece where realism meets metaphor. Their poetic lens transforms political unrest into emotional reflection, portraying the struggles of marginalized groups while celebrating resilience and identity.

Visual atmosphere
Filmed entirely in Asturias, northern Spain, the film contrasts its dystopian tone with breathtaking coastal and cave landscapes.
Andrea Centazzo’s evocative score amplifies its emotional undercurrent, turning the short into a visual and sonic plea for justice and hope.

🎥 Genre: Drama
🌈 Themes: LGBTQ+ / Human Rights
🕒 Runtime: 23 min 52 sec
🌍 Language: Spanish (subtitles in English, French, and others)
📽️ Format: 4K / Aspect Ratio 1.90:1
🎭 Cast:Pelayo Carrizo, Senén Valera, Alejandro Barrena, Úrsula Villalta, David Soto Giganto, Lucía Llamedo, Óscar Torrecillas, Sam McNamara Ferreiro, Abdou Karim Thiam, Mia Onungue, Eduardo Cabrera
🎵 Music: Andrea Centazzo

🔗 Official Website: https://www.almostred.com/circulos-de-agua-bajo-nubes-de-algodon/
🎞️ IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16048910/
🎬 TMDb: https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/994583-circulos-sobre-agua-bajo-nubes-de-algodon
📚 Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q112897783
⭐ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/film/water-circles-under-cotton-clouds/
🎥 FilmAffinity: https://www.filmaffinity.com/es/film308858.html
▶️ Trailer: https://youtu.be/aTlDTsVA6LU

“Equality and social justice will prevail over despotism after a fratricidal struggle for survival.”

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🔑 Water Circles Under Cotton Clouds, Círculos sobre agua bajo nubes de algodón, Roberto F. Canuto, Xu Xiaoxi, Asturian cinema, Spanish short film, dystopian drama, poetic realism, LGBTQ cinema, human rights, independent film, Asturias, Andrea Centazzo, Almost Red Productions