The Spanish film that no one remembered, with Penélope Cruz, Cersei Lannister and time travel: it was nominated for a Goya.

Few people remember it, but the video-on-demand (VOD) platform FlixOlé has a time-travel film featuring a young Penélope Cruz and Lena Headey, who would go on to become the popular Cersei Lannister from Game of Thrones . This romantic science fiction offering also marked the directorial debut of one of Spain's most prolific filmmakers .

It's about Rain in the Shoes , a dramatic comedy with magical overtones that María Ripoll shot in English and released in 1998, when Cruz was just beginning his international rise . Ripoll has since directed iconic titles such as Your Life in 65' , Living Twice , and the 2025 release, This Too Shall Pass . The film, set in London, blends fantasy and emotion to tell the story of Victor Bukowski (Douglas Henshall), an actor in the midst of a romantic crisis, who finds himself given a second chance after a mysterious time warp.

Victor is still in love with his ex-girlfriend, Sylvia, who is getting married the next day to a guy she met at the gym. Desperate to win her back, he tells his tragedy to everyone he meets, wishing he could go back in time and return to the afternoon he confessed to Sylvia that he was having an affair with another woman, so he wouldn't make the same mistake again.

First times for Penelope Cruz

With an urban and cosmopolitan aesthetic, and shot in Notting Hill before Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts filmed there, the film reflects on past mistakes and regret . Rain on the Shoes was also Penélope Cruz's first experience in a production entirely in English, as she dubbed herself in the Spanish version.

Her character, Louise, is a writer who enters the scene in the protagonist's new timeline. The plot connects with classic references like It's a Wonderful Life and Life on a Thread , integrating supernatural elements into an intimate treatment of human relationships.

Nominated for a Goya Award for Best New Director and awarded Best Screenplay at the Montreal Film Festival, this film has gained added value over the years due to the enormous evolution of its protagonists . For those who enjoyed About Time , Rain on Shoes is a hidden gem worth rediscovering.