A conservative father who could not accept his son’s sexuality is led on a contemplative tour of queer life in New York in this Bolivian film.
The Bolivian film “Tu Me Manques” begins with a fight for an absent man’s affection. Jorge (Oscar Martínez) was the father of Gabriel, the former lover of Sebastian (Fernando Barbosa). When a chance phone call makes it possible for Jorge and Sebastian to meet, Sebastian is quick to hurl accusations at Jorge, who wouldn’t accept his son’s sexuality. Jorge has only tragedy to fling back: Gabriel died by suicide upon returning from New York City to Bolivia.
What follows is an exploration of grief and adoration, as both men try to find a way to honor Gabriel’s memory. Jorge travels to New York looking for answers, and in response, Sebastian gives him a tour of Gabriel’s life in the city, introducing him to queer friends and gay nightclubs. The reminiscences lead Sebastian to write a play about his lost love, and the movie uses his theatrical ideas as an interesting, if somewhat alienating, reason to experiment with editing and form. Sebastian hires 30 actors to perform the role of his beloved — a gimmick that is mimicked in the film’s flashback sequences, which rotate in different performers as Gabriel.
The film was written and directed by Rodrigo Bellott, who adapted the story from his play of the same name, based on similar events in his own life. Though the movie’s aesthetics are tepidly pleasant, Bellott’s biggest success is freeing his film’s relationship to time. In this sense, the movie retains some of the vitality of theater, where the characters invite the audience into reverie. Sebastian’s past, present, future and his fantasies of all three interact through flash-forwards and flashbacks, weaving together to create a moving and intellectually rewarding testament to queer life and loss.
Tu Me Manques
Not rated. In Spanish and English, with subtitles. Running time: 1 hour 50 minutes. Watch on virtual cinemas.
Source: Movies - nytimes.com
