On the outskirts of Madrid lies Europe’s largest shantytown, Cañada Real. Since 2020, its residents have lived without electricity. Local fifteen-year-old Toni spends his days following his grandfather, a jack-of-all-trades. When Toni’s family faces eviction, his grandfather refuses to leave. In the shadows cast by burning bonfires, not only do doubts about the future come alive, but also magical Roma myths and haunting childhood tales. Sleepless City is both a farewell to childhood and a sensitive portrait of a vanishing community. The film’s roles are performed by the very residents of Cañada.
