Historia de dos Guerreros (Spanish) [Story of Two Warriors]

This film felt like an independent film with a runtime of just about an hour. On the plus side, the film just focuses on the story it wants to tell without having to stray into side plots. Sadly that is not enough to keep the focus of viewers. It felt like this could have ben a very good short film. The attempt, though noble, feels amateurish at various places. Despite the fact that the film doesn't drag, it still feels it could have ben tightly edited to make for a far better impact. The two good looking leads hold the film tightly together.

The film is about the bond that forms between Ara, a local MMA fighter, and Kossi, a soccer player from Togo who faces hardship in Argentina. Ara, a local fighter notices an injured Kossi and somehow gets fascinated by him. It turns out that Kossi came here from Togo with a promise to join an elite football club that could change his life. But not only did the agent turn out be fraud, but now with the injury, he doesn't have place to live or money to go back home. Ara arranges for him to stay at hi coach's gym and gets him a day job at an orchard where he works. The duo hang out, become friends and constantly exercise and train. It's clear that Ara has sexual attraction towards the man but neither does anything about it. They are so close that some old guys make fun of them as fairies at work which bothers Ara a lot. One rainy evening, finally the hormones take over and the two finally get sexual and are happy about it, but the rumors start to spread. Worried that what will this do to his future in the city, Ara snubs at Kossi publicly, breaking his hear and call ing him things as if did not matter. A rival man signs up Kossi to fight and make money and in a showered attempt signs Ara for their first fight. The final fight starts where they both want to win but while hurting each other, they both realize they are really in love with each other and eventually hug it out much to the bewilderment of the crowd. The film ends with the dup hugging it in.

The film has a decent story to tell, but to make it impactful, either this should have been a short story or a more detailed flushed out version of it. The same film could have used tighter editing, remove exercise shots and some black and white photographic moments and would have had a much tighter impact. It is refreshing to see that the makers used a small village in Argentina which is likely less tolerant about gay relationships and made a couple with a black immigrant and ho love forms. To give credit due, we do see that Ara is interested in Kossi, but the way the relationship grows, attraction happens and eventually culminates into sex on a rainy day has been handled with grace, respect and love. It is not meant to seduce audience but it shows how there isa genuine friendship and affection between the two men. It definitely helps that both the guys are extremely good looking, have perfectly ripped bodies and are not afraid to show it off throughout the duration the film. The acting could use some polish and training and so could the direction at various places. Overall, it explores the developing friendship and romantic relationship between the two men, as well as their struggles to get ahead in life in the context of rural MMA fighting. If you can ignore the slight amateurish nature of the film, it is not bad at all, but how I wish it was better and had more to say than just brush the topic off the surface. (5.5/10)