The Smiling Lombana

Overview

Little is known about Tito Lombana, and it is not enough to truly understand who he was. What is known is that he was a coastal artist of humble origins who sculpted Cartagena de Indias’ most iconic monument: Los Zapatos Viejos (The Old Shoes). This undeniably talented young man, who enjoyed a certain level of fame and prestige, suddenly abandoned art, severed ties with his family, and faded into oblivion.

The director of the documentary, Lombana’s granddaughter, only saw her grandfather once in her life, shortly before his death. Why did her family always keep him a secret? What hidden truth lay behind his smile that turned him into a family taboo?

The film seeks to unravel the mystery of this eccentric, amoral yet refined and joyful man, whose life led to an irreparable break. Lombana’s story, filled with love and heartbreak, becomes intertwined with the complex history of Colombia at the end of the last century.