Movie Reviews -
Gay Themed

Biographies are tricky, because they may work for the country where the main character is based on, but maybe not in other places. This film is the biography on the life of Peruvian actor and drag queen Ernesto Pimentel 'Chola Chabuca' and a very famous TV show host. As it happens most of the times, I had no idea who this person was. But that did not stop me from throughly enjoying this film. It is one of those well made biographies and is a story that will resonate with most folks irrespective of what you have known this personality or not.  The film starts with Ernesto Pimentel, dressed as 'La Chola Chabuca', about to enter the air to host his first television program, and he faints. Using this scene a few times, we are then taken through the journey and rise of Ernesto. As a very young boy, Ernesto loses his mother and is raised by his grandmother. He also needs some economic stability, so he starts taking random theatre jobs here and there, but is always hard workin...

The film addresses many of the hypocrisies associated with Peruvian society’s attitude towards homosexuality, and also ties in this attitude with prevalent racist attitudes towards the Indian population. It tells the story of the early adulthood of a gay upper-class Peruvian man, Joaquin, who struggles to live up to everyone’s expectations and to come to terms with his own desires. I have seen only a handful of Peruvian films with gay theme, so this was a welcome change. I am very confident that I had seen this film before because memories were all coming back, but I watched it again and this time I can write the review here as well. The story is primarily about Joaquin, a boy who doesn't fit into the traditional definition of masculinity in Peruvian society. His father takes him for hunting hoping that this will make a man of him He is just 15. In the trip Joaquin tries to make sexual advances to the local Indian boy and is rebuffed badly. When he finishes school, his father takes...

Retablo is a tridimensional portrait made of meticulously sculpted potato-dough figurines encased in a vibrantly painted wooden altar with double doors to conceal its contents. I am not sure if its fair to label this film as a queer drama. It is more of a coming-of-age film especially in the patriarchal mountainside villages of Peru and the inherent silent homophobia that exists within the society. Noe is a true folk artisan and is very popular and respected for his retablos. He is knows as Maestro for his skills but he doesn't lead an easy life. He sells his art in various cities and villages all over the region and traveling isin't easy since he lives in a mountainous region. His son Segundo is completely in awe of his father and wants to learn his skills and be like him. Noe is his idol. But on a trip to deliver a large piece of work, Segundo catches a glimpse of Noe in a sex act with a man. Shame hits him and suddenly he starts to distance himself from his parents leav...

After watching loads of crap in the film festival, here came the pleasant surprise in the form of this Peruvian small film Undertow. I am so glad I got to see this film. It is such a beautiful depiction of human emotions. Not only does the film depict the unmatched beauty of the Peruvian coastline, this bittersweet tale of a unique love-triangle set within a small fishing village explores the quest to define contemporary sexual identity.  Miguel, a respected fisherman and his beautiful bride Mariela are about to welcome their firstborn. But Miguel harbors a scandalous secret; he is also in love with a man, Santiago, a visiting artist who has been ostracized by the local community because of his sexuality. Even though Santiago is frustrated with Miguel's closetness, he still loves him and yearns for him alot. When Santiago drowns in a tragic accident involving the ocean's strong undertow, his spirit returns to Miguel in a form that only he is able to see. For the first time, the...