Simply A Masterpiece

hyped garbage

For all the hype it got I was expecting a lot more!

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

We are treated to four different yet interwoven stories; the common denominator being that they deal with being gay and gay relationships.In one story we meet an elderly closeted gay poet, Joaquín (Alonso Echánove); he is married, with a seemingly happy wife and daughters. He is smitten by a young male prostitute, Gilberto (Alejandro Belmonte) he meets in a bath-house. In a second story we get an example of a long-term (ten year) gay relationship that is starting to fall apart. Unfaithful Hugo (Antonio Velásquez) is involved in an affair with another man. His sensitive partner, Andrés (Alejandro de la Madrid) is trying his best to save their relationship. The relationship between two young gay men is put under pressure in a third story; Leo (Gustavo Egelhaaf) is closeted and scared to reveal his sexual orientation, whilst Fito (César Ramos) does not want to remain in the closet any longer. This leads to tension. In the fourth story a clearly gay boy, Mauricio (Gabriel Santoyo) develops a crush on his older cousin, Oliver (Sebastián Rivera). Mauricio desperately wants to get closer to Oliver, but it is a risky move; what if Oliver is straight and homophobic? The director, Sergio Tovar Velarde, effectively highlights some of the issues faced by gays: Social pressure resulting in fear and closeted lifestyles, a swinging lifestyle and promiscuity, and how hard it is to make a long-term relationship work. Furthermore, it shows us how a homophobic and intolerant society, fueled by the church, can result in bullying and assault. I found the acting splendid, and so too the cinematography and soundtrack, and score 'Cuatro Lunas' an excellent 8/10.

Technically speaking, the film seemed me like a telenovela. With time and performances OK for television, but not very elaborated for a film. Four parallel stories that look like they were there, all together, because of the director did not know whether he would again have budget to film them separately in the future. Anyway, I liked the story of Leo, Fito and his mother (great acting). The story of the boys from school, I found it hard to believe. We are in the twenty-first century (and looked like it was happening in the 70s). If at a school, a boy (or a group of boys) hit, that way, to another, for being gay, or whatever, he/them are sanctioned, and all adults defend the victim, but in this movie, everybody assume the argument of the perpetrator, as valid and, OK, the gay boy "something had done" to deserve that. The story of the poet grandfather was interesting though little credible. And the gay couple's story (the too gay styled couple), very boring and obvious, to me.

I don't think this film looks at really complex themes, but they're resonant, heartfelt themes nonetheless, and coming from a Mexican film it's rare that it looks at the issues that it does. The main cast are all pretty great, some more than others. Some of the stories resonated with me more than others, and some were overall more effective than others. They're simple, but effective. It's great that Mexico is at least letting films like these be made, and I really appreciate its ambition. I hope it's able to be seen by more people because it really deserves it. Overall, very resonant and very well-made. Definitely recommended for anyone interested.

My review is technical, I am not a bitter homophobic or else.I had too much trouble to watching this movie to the end. I look at the clock every five minutes.The dialogs are stupid, cheesy and lack of substance. Artificial is a good word to describe this "attempt to film". The acting is so poor. The directing are the worst I ever seen. This actors can't speak, they whisper instead. 4 stories, 4 yawns. Prostitucion, Sex, Gay boy bullynized,and many more clichés. This movie should be called "Gay Life For Dummies". Is boring to dead and the music is worth the film, boring, boring, boring. This is a gender film, is not very enjoyable, is a soap dish worth for TV, not for the big screen. If you are a sick masochist, you probably enjoy this torture.