Growing up gay is never easy. Who really wants to be “different than the rest of us?” But attempting to do so in a hostile family (through ignorance and fear, not any sort of understanding) it can push a body to commit unspeakable acts—far, far worse than men having sex with men, and enjoying it.
Director-writer Martín Rodríguez Redondo (along with co-writers Mariana Decampo and Mara Pescio) has hit one out of the coming-of-age-lavender-style park with this devastating tale of farm boy Marcos (Walter Rodríguez positively radiates for the camera and has a very early understanding of how looks speak so much louder than words) is most certainly in touch with his feminine side, but makes him easy prey for his co-generational bullies who are happy to have their pathetic cocks sucked or revel in “I am not gay” anal penetration (most notably Rudolfo García Werner, readily playing the worst friend you ever had to the hilt).
As bad as his Marcos’ “pals” are, it is his duplicitous mother that sows the familial seeds for an ending that seems just one buckshot short of completion. Veteran Catalina Saavedra is uncomfortably believable as the She Who Must Be Obeyed matriarch (especially after her spouse dies prematurely in the cusp of seeking revenge for widespread cattle rustling), readily accepting her queer son’s fashion advice and hair colourings then sending the only love of his brief life (Andrew Bargsted, positively endearing as the somewhat furry-chested Federico) running away for having dared to show any sort of affection to her son. Brother Carlitos (Ignacio Giménez) semiliterate and totally bigoted, though not an unlikely character in most families, offers no empathy—much less sympathy—for his Friend of Dorothy sibling, other than to teach him the fine art of milking a cow. Fag hag/girlfriend Laura (convincingly played by Josefina Paredes) offers the only ray of hope in this sadly believable narrative that can only end badly…as it does.
Still, this wonderfully dialogue-lite production is a must-see for budding LGBTQ individuals and —most especially—their families. Hopefully, some important lessons about tolerance, understating and “Who can throw the first stone?” will sink in. JWR