This is an old movie (2000), but i just watched this weekend. Scored 7.4/10 in IMDB, this movie slightly remind me of Public Enemy, the kind of movie that will leave you snoring in the middle. True, while watching this movie, I snored at the middle part.
Supposedly this is a gay themed movie, true the story is about gay relationship, but the way it is told is so not gay typical.
In "typical" gay movie usually everything that revolves around the main character suddenly is gay. Whether it is new stranger from out of town, the lifesaver, new buddy, classmate, bestfriend, your bestfriend's brother or whatever. And also the movie usually displays generous amount of male's body and male-to-male sex scenes. Not to mention cheesy dialogue that sometimes makes you roll your eyes: "Oh that is sooo GAY!"
But this movie? Surprise surprise! No male-to-male sex scene! And no body display except neccessary. The only two sex scenes are heterosexual. And the only male-to-male kissing scene is at the end part of the movie. Yet I agree with the big writings: "Intensely Erotic". The sparks from the two gay characters are flying everywhere.
The full plot can be found at wiki. The main characters are Nene and Angel. Nene is kind of big brother (he mentioned Angel as his "twin brother"), the part of the sane one. While Angel, half psychotic (he always hears "voices"), represents cute little brother yet with hidden violent tendency. They are gay couple since the beginning of the movie and met at the station restroom.
The theme of the movie is dark (even when the scene is bright), full of drugs and booze. And from my perspective, the story is about refinding (or is it reconfirmation of?) their love. Nene through adventure with women, men, and last: Giselle. And Angel through dealing with his "voices" (went to church, using drugs). And sweetly but heart wrenchingly, at the most unfortunate moment, they found each other again. Nene choosed Angel over Giselle, and at the same time throwing away the chance to escape, and Angel could no longer hearing "voices" in his head.
It is so bizarrely beautiful. The love story between those two is represented in unobvious way. You can tell from eye contacts, tender actions, but never never clearly displayed (at least not until the end part of the movie). And what i like the most from these characters: they never regret things that they've done. Not for once I heard them spoke "I'm sorry". It seems like, through pain and sorrow, they were celebrating their life.
My favorite scene (yet it seems it is a favorite scene for other people as well since i can easily find it at Youtube) is when Angel found out that Nene is unfaithful (notice that the Spanish for "lovebite" is similar with Indonesian term =)). Angel's stare is just...
This movie definetly wow-ed me. Thumb up for the director and actors for making gay themed movie yet so not gay!
And since it based on true story, I wish real Nene and Angel are happy wherever they are now.
