Jonas Mekas & Éric Rohmer

Sobremesa.Recs is a series where we delve into the people, places, and inspiration that make up Sobremesa’s world.
Curated by Sobremesa.Team ♡

At Sobremesa we see language as something that goes beyond words; it is the act of sharing, of giving and receiving, of letting words and ideas take shape between people. And in film, we find a reflection of this philosophy—how words and images merge to create meaning, how dialogue is not just spoken but felt, how light, color, and sound turn conversations into something cinematic.

In the summer of 2022, we set out to create a brand video that truly represented what Sobremesa means to us: a space for conversation, for connection, for letting language unfold in its own time. Inspired by two of the filmmakers who have most deeply shaped our creative vision, we gathered together a group of friends and collaborators and rented a house in Horta de Sant Joan, a breathtakingly beautiful yet little-known corner of Catalonia, often referred to as the Catalan Tuscany. For three unforgettable days, our team gathered around a long table, surrounded by open landscapes and unhurried time. We spoke, we listened, we allowed conversations to unfold as naturally as the shifting light.

For our Sobremesa Brand Video, we wanted to bring these two visions together—Mekas’ spontaneity and Rohmer’s carefully composed naturalism—to capture the essence of what Sobremesa truly is: a space for conversation, for connection, for letting language unfold in its own time. We let the camera move without a fixed plan, following gestures, catching the flicker of expressions, embracing natural light as our only filter. The warmth of the stone walls, the shifting tones of the sky, the texture of linen against the golden hues of the landscape—all of it became part of the story, as much as the voices that filled the air.

Jonas Mekas taught us to embrace the rawness of memory, to capture the fleeting and imperfect, where words and images dissolve into each other like fragments of thought. Éric Rohmer, on the other hand, mastered the poetry of conversation, where dialogue meanders through sunlit landscapes, and colors, glances, and pauses speak as much as the words themselves. Read on to find out more about how we brought their vision to life.

The goal was to create something that felt authentic, unscripted, and deeply human, capturing the rhythm of a sobremesa in all its imperfect beauty.

So, on a scorching summer day, we set out to film our own homage—a sobremesa captured through the lens of Mekas’ vision. The setting: Horta de San Joan, a place where time slows down, where the land and the light feel untouched by urgency. In the heart of this landscape, nestled atop a hill, stands a centuries-old masia, once a watchtower in the 11th century, now a quiet witness to time itself.

We wanted the process to be instinctive, organic, and free-flowing, just as Mekas would have done. There was no rigid storyboard, no strict sequence of events—only a sensitivity to the present moment. The camera moved like an observer, weaving in and out of conversations, following gestures, catching fleeting smiles, the clinking of glasses, the shifting light as the sun dipped lower in the sky.

Instead of relying on clean, polished shots, we embraced motion, grain, light leaks, and unexpected beauty in imperfection. The handheld camera mimicked memory itself—sometimes crisp, sometimes blurred, always in motion.

Mekas taught us that cinema is not about perfection—it’s about presence. His films remind us that our culture, our essence, our sovereignty over our own stories lie in the small, seemingly insignificant details of daily life.

We wanted to translate that into this film:

• Memories appearing as fragmented moments rather than a structured narrative.
• Authenticity over artifice—real people, real conversations, real movement.
• Aesthetic choices that embrace imperfection—the graininess of 16mm film, the unpredictability of handheld shots, the warmth of natural light.
• A celebration of the everyday, where beauty is not staged but discovered.

A Sobremesa Tribute to Rohmer
Capturing a Cinematic Atmosphere

Éric Rohmer, the master of cinematic conversation, makes films that unfold like an effortless exchange between image and language. His characters walk, talk, pause, reflect. Every color, every piece of clothing, every beam of sunlight filtering through a window plays a role in the story. Dialogue in Rohmer’s world is not just about what is said, but about the space it occupies, the way it interacts with its surroundings.

For our Sobremesa Brand Video, we wanted to channel Rohmer’s approach—not just through dialogue, but through the subtle yet powerful ways in which setting, clothing, and atmosphere shape a story. Filming in the open air, under the golden sun, we embraced the textures of summer—light linen shirts, soft earth tones, sun-washed facades that whisper of history. Our goal was to create an environment where nothing felt staged, yet every element contributed to the mood.

We paid close attention to:

• The palette of the landscape – warm ochres, deep greens, dusty blues—the colors of nature itself.
• How light interacts with fabric and skin – the way a slight breeze lifts a shirt collar, how the afternoon sun filters through a wine glass, casting golden reflections.
• A rhythm of conversation that feels both spontaneous and poetic – sentences overlapping, voices blending with the sounds of cicadas, a moment of silence saying just as much as a well-placed word.

For a week this summer, we want to bring that video to life—not just as a vision, but as a real, tangible experience shared with our community. We want to invite you to step into a different rhythm—one shaped by slow mornings, long conversations, and the unhurried joy of shared meals. A summer where learning Spanish isn’t confined to a classroom but unfolds naturally, around the table, in conversations with artists, in the streets, in the quiet pauses between words.

Our Summer Spanish Immersions are designed for those who seek more than a traditional language program—for creatives, artists, and conscious travelers who want to engage with Spanish in a way that is organic, immersive, and deeply connected to culture.

With a small, carefully selected group of students, we’ll spend our days embracing the art of conversation, wandering through inspiring landscapes, and rediscovering the pleasure of slowness. Together, we will build a space where language becomes something living and fluid, shaped by the moments we share.

If you’ve been longing for a different kind of summer—one filled with beauty, creativity, and meaningful connection—this is your invitation. Will you join us?