The Canaries, La Gomera and Polyamory | Re: | ARTE.tv Documentaries

Love Unbound: Life, Self-Discovery, and Polyamory on La Gomera. On the wild, sun-drenched shores of La Gomera, one of the lesser-known Canary Islands, a group of young people has chosen to redefine the boundaries of love, freedom, and self-discovery. Picture a community where the expectations of modern society are left behind, replaced by a radical experiment in living authentically and loving openly. Here, Tunque, Kiran, Foxy, Panda, and others have left behind the trappings of conventional life—stable jobs, traditional relationships, and the endless pursuit of possessions. They embrace polyamory and communal living, not as a rebellion, but as a conscious journey toward self-understanding and genuine connection. Their relationships are open, honest, sometimes painfully so, but always rooted in the belief that love should not be caged by fear, jealousy, or social conditioning. This lifestyle isn't easy. Opening up to multiple loves reveals insecurities and triggers the ego, as partners confess their attractions and desires for others. Yet, in the rawness of these moments, they discover vulnerability as a source of strength, not weakness. For many in the group, the process is transformative—learning that love multiplies when shared, and that fulfillment comes from within, not from clinging to exclusivity. The island itself becomes a character in their story—a place of both refuge and challenge. People like Foxy and Panda, escaping burnout and the rat race, find solace in simplicity, living in vans or caves, waking up to the sound of the sea and the wind through the rocks. Financial scarcity is met with creativity—some take to coaching others on their own journeys of self-acceptance, proving that fulfillment isn't bought, but cultivated. Not everyone in this patchwork community embraces polyamory. For some, like Boris and Kataline, the focus is on radical self-love and inner freedom. They see solitude not as isolation, but as an opportunity to tune out the noise of others' expectations and truly listen to their own hearts. Their message is clear—whether alone or in a web of relationships, happiness comes from knowing and loving oneself first. The ripple effect of this experiment in living and loving differently stretches far beyond the island. Visitors, like Danny from England, arrive burdened by depression and failed relationships, only to be transformed by the openness and acceptance they encounter. Old wounds heal, new possibilities emerge, and sometimes, when these travelers return to their former lives, they do so with new clarity, braver in their choices and more honest in their relationships. Back in the cold of northern England, the lessons of La Gomera are put to the test. Old partners meet new friends, and the boundaries of love and connection are renegotiated. What might have once seemed threatening or strange—loving more than one person, or making space for a deep friendship outside the couple—becomes a chance for growth, understanding, and unexpected harmony. At the heart of this story is a simple but radical idea: when self-love is the foundation, love for others knows no bounds. The experiment continues, with each sunrise on La Gomera offering another chance to choose love over fear, presence over possession, and authenticity over convention. The journey is never finished, but in the freedom of this island life, every day is an invitation to love more deeply—both others and oneself.