This is your typical indie coming-of-age tale about a teenager, though it’s clearly working with a very tiny budget. Set within a migrant family living in Southern California’s Coachella Valley, the movie digs into how fragile old-school traditions and expectations can be. We follow a teenage son as he goes through the process of coming out and struggles to find acceptance while dealing with homophobia, domestic abuse, and a messy love triangle that involves his own sister. Goyo is seventeen and just about to graduate from high school. Since he’s been a bit more feminine since he was a little kid, he’s always had to deal with emotional and physical transition from his dad, Ramon, who is obsessed with him being "a man." The only real love he gets is from a lady next door who actually respects him for who he is. The family lives in a Mexican community where everyone works on a grape farm, but things get shaken up when a new guy named Lucio arrives. Lucio basically seduces Goyo ...
Morgan is a cyclist who has recently been paralyzed after a bad accident in a cycling race. He has lost purpose in life and spends his day drinking and watching TV. He is also in a financial stress but somehow still doesn't take his life seriously despite constant interruptions by his mother. He also has a good and loyal friend lane but neither her nor his mother can motivate him enough. When day when he is rolling through a park, he has chance meeting with Dean. Starting with a small talk, they soon start dating. Love brings back confidence in Morgan and can brings out the fun and bright side in him. When the current year's race is announced, Morgan decides to take part in it. Initially Dean is very supportive and helps him with everything but when the training is too strenuous on his body, Morgan's doctor advices against it. But Morgan now wants to do despite everyone in his life advising him against it including Dean. While training all alone, after breaking up with Dean, Morgan gets into a small accident which opens up his eyes and understands that life is much more about other things than just pride. He will have enough time for pride but the comfort of family and his love will never happen again.
The chemistry between the 2 lead actors was very very interesting, real and something that is easy to relate to. They both seemed pretty easy with each other. Their initial awkward courtship is genuine when they are trying to know about each other including the scenes where Dean helps Morgan with his training. At one end where we have 2 excellent male actors, both the female actors playing the friend and mother were use bad. Their dialogue delivery, expressions and everything looked so rehearsed and artificial, specially when compared to the chemistry that we were seeing among the 2 leading men. I really enjoyed the first half of the film but I feel that the conflicts were created just for the sake of it. It was like, how can we have only a goody goody flm. There has to be a break up and then getting back together. That whole situation seemed forced to me. As quick it happened, the 2 guys even get back together with even a faster speed. So a sense of reality was lost there. ANother hint is about the lighting. I dunno what it was but the film was very dark. I wish it was little bright. Both indoor and outdoor scenes were quite dark, cloudy and gloomy.
This film definitely shows the side of gay life that I personally have not seen in a film before. Though predictable towards end, you can still find love, if you are willing to stop and get to know a person. At least this film dares to be different. (6.5/10)
Comments
Watched this movie because of you!
Though I had the conflicts coming, I still liked the way the movie differentiated itself from other movies I've watched. Many thanks to you! :)