Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed

In 1966 John Lennon is in the midst of an existential crisis in which he's considering leaving the Beatles for good. Trying to launch a career in acting, he travels to Almeria in southern Spain to film Richard Lester's anti-war black comedy: 'How I Won the War.' Antonio (Javier Camara), a schoolteacher of English and die-hard fan of the Liverpool quartet, decides to go on a road trip from Albacete to Almeria in the hope of meeting Lennon. He uses the Beatles' lyrics to teach English and he has an unusual request. On the way Antonio crosses paths with Belen (Natalia de Molina), who's escaping from forced seclusion by her family and by Spanish society at the time. At 20, she's running from something. The pair come across Juanjo (Francesc Colomer), a 16-year-old teen, who's simply run away from home, rebelling from his conservative, intolerant and inflexible father. Neither young person has a definitive goal, so happily accompany the schoolteacher on his mission to Almeria. Arriving, Juanjo initially says his goodbyes, wandering down the beach. Antonio convinces Belen to rest a bit in his room, while he sorts out a job for Juanjo at the cafe. Returning to the room, Belen had napped and Antonio point blank asks her how many months she is. Based on his keen observation skills, he deduces her pregnancy. As she sheds some tears, he offers to pay for her room, and he gets himself another. Later, in the cafe, Antonio and Belen are having dinner when a big local farmer comes in. He constantly teases and bullies Juanjo over his hair, insisting he looks like a female. The cafe owner Ramon (Ramon Fontsere) tells them his story. Originally from Catalonia, he met an Italian woman who followed him to Almeria for the sun. They had Bruno (Rogelio Fernandez), a son who is handicapped, who he takes care of as she returned to Italy. Juanjo is shown his room at the back of the cafe and Antonio and Belen head off to their corresponding rooms. Waking early, they head off to the film location, but the Guardia Civil won't let them on set without an invitation. The unlikely trio find a way onto set, and Antonio convinces Lennon to start including lyrics with their records. Afterwards, they go to a beach and have sardines while he excitedly tells them how friendly John was with him, sharing with him the yet-untitled lyrics to Strawberry Fields Forever and even marijuana cookies. On the road, they come across the farmer who had beaten up Juanjo, and Antonio unsuccessfully tries to get him to apologize. He encourages the two young people to not let fear stop them or let someone take away their dignity, to follow their dreams and look for their own freedoms. Upon their return to the cafe, Juanjo's dad (Jorge Sanz) is waiting for them. Juanjo convinces Belen and his father to take her with them to Madrid, as he insists she can live on her own terms there and he can help her get hairdressing work. As Antonio drives out of town, passing by the unrepentant farmer's tomato plot, he drives through the plants, gleefully singing 'Help!'