The premiere of the documentary “Flowers for Antonio” at the San Sebastián Festival caused a real sensation. This project, initiated by Alba, the granddaughter of the legendary Lola Flores, and carried out under the direction of Elena Molina and Isaki Lacuesta, became not just a tribute but a genuine revelation. The film, which will be released widely on November 28, promises many surprises for fans of the famous artistic dynasty. The main intrigue centers on figures who were until now almost unknown to the public: Antonio Flores’s half-brother and half-sister, children of Antonio González “El Pescaílla” from relationships prior to his marriage to “La Faraona”.
The most well-known of them is Antonia, or Tonya, as she is affectionately called in the family. She is a talented dancer who inherited her passion for the arts from her mother, Dolores Amaya Moreno, niece of the great Carmen Amaya. Journalist María Teresa Campos once managed to organize their first public meeting with Lola Flores on television—an episode remembered for its incredible emotional intensity. Lolita Flores has repeatedly emphasized that she knew about her sister’s existence since childhood. Their parents ensured that the siblings developed a warm and close relationship. She remembers her father often taking them to their grandmother’s house, and the children practically grew up together. Lolita has always spoken about Tonya with great love and respect, noting that from the very beginning, she was welcomed into their home and family.
Lolita shared that she became aware of having a sister around the age of seven or eight, and the family accepted this completely naturally. There was never any conflict between the families. She fondly noted that Tonya resembled their father not only in appearance, but also in her calm and reserved personality. Tonya herself, who always avoided the public eye, fully confirmed her sister’s words. She recalled how they used to play together in the park, and how Lola Flores the elder would often visit them, maintaining a warm relationship.
Juan Antonio’s fate, the second child of “El Pescaílla,” turned out quite differently. His mother was Carmela Santos, a dancer from Jerez. He is only a few months older than Lolita, but unlike his sisters, he never sought media attention. His mother also kept silent about her relationship with the famous musician throughout her life. Juan grew up in Jerez de la Frontera, far from the flashbulbs that constantly followed the Flores clan. In her interviews, Lolita also took the opportunity to remind people of her father’s musical genius. She maintains that he was one of the creators of Catalan rumba, a genre that in recent years has enjoyed a revival thanks to artists like C. Tangana. “Our father told us he created it, and, as good gypsy daughters, we believe him,” she declared proudly, defending the legacy of “El Pescaílla.”
