The film follows a young man credited only as 'Él' (English:'Him') as he wanders central Strasbourg in search of Sylvia, a woman he asked for directions in a bar six years earlier.

The director also created a silent documentary companion piece called Some Photos in the City of Sylvia, which he assembled from still photographs he had taken, released that same year.

"[3] En la Ciudad de Sylvia was nominated for the 2007 Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, although the award was eventually presented to Ang Lee for Lust, Caution.

En la Ciudad de Sylvia won the 2008 Australian Film Critics Association award for the 'best unreleased film' in Australia at the time of the awards.

Guerín won the best director award of the Premios ACE 2009 for this film.