Time Out is an 81-minute 2025 biographical sports documentary made in Spain and directed by Félix Colomer. The film investigates the life and disappearance of Charles Thomas, the celebrated basketball player who made his mark on the Spanish Liga in the 1960s with Sant Josep de Badalona, Barça and Manresa.
At the centre of the documentary is professional basketball, told through the sporting trajectory of an athlete with extraordinary talent. Regarded as elegant, virtuoso and charismatic, Thomas was known for exceptional athletic abilities, to the point that many said he “could fly.” His career, however, comes to a drastic halt following a serious injury, marking the beginning of a long period of isolation, troubling rumours and a complete lack of news about him.
The film follows the director's personal investigation as he sets out to reconstruct the former champion's story and discover what truly happened to him. Despite Thomas's importance to Spanish basketball—he was the league's top scorer for two consecutive seasons—he seems to have vanished without trace, leaving even his closest relatives in the dark. Through interviews, archive material and testimony from former teammates, the documentary retraces a brilliant career and a sudden fall into oblivion.
Its message concerns sporting memory, the fragility of athletic identity and the desire to fill a biographical void affecting not only one player's story but also a significant part of Spanish basketball culture. The film invites reflection on the relationship between myth, reality and loss, exploring the boundary between glory and disappearance.
Produced by Tian Riba for El Terrat and by Xavier Sobrón and Núria Castejon for 3Cat, Time Out is neither a student project nor the director's first work. The production involves experienced professionals, including Guiu Vallvé in editing, Juan Cobo and Pep Bosch in cinematography, Edgar Vidal in sound design and Joaquim Badía in music. The documentary was completed on 15 March 2025 and belongs to the body of films devoted to iconic sporting figures and their forgotten stories.
Film Information
Title: Time Out
Original title: Temps Mort
Direction: Félix Colomer
Production: Tian Riba (El Terrat), Xavier Sobrón and Núria Castejon (3Cat)
Country: Spain
Language: Catalan, English
Running time: 81 minutes
Genre: Documentary, Biography, Sport
Sport featured: Basketball
Main subject(s): Charles Thomas
Completion date: 15 March 2025
Premiere: [Not specified]
Distributor: [Not specified]
Shooting format: Digital, 1.85:1, black and white and colour
Director's first film: No
Student project: No