epsurv Reviews

Comme les autres (2008)

A good approach to the subject but a little heterosexist

[7/10 · 17 June 2010]

I think this film is very effective in showing the drama of a homosexual man who wants to be a father. The acting is good and the situations Manu goes through are real, this is what happens to a gay man in reality. There are two critiques that I can do. The most important one, the relationship between Manu and Phillippe is sort of "censored", we don't see them having sex and the re-encounter kiss is cut really really fast. We see very few displays of affection between the men. On the other hand there is a sex scene between Manu and Fina and several kisses. So from a gay point of view, there is sort of a censorship, or probably the actors were too inhibited to go all the way. I think it may have been necessary a sex scene or other display of affection between the men in the beginning before they split, just to be in balance with the "heterosexual" side of the movie. A minor critique, is that Fina and her mother are Spanish actors, and for an Argentinian viewer this is evident, though they try to copy the Argentine Spanish accent they don't get it right. The only real Argentinian actor or at least Uruguayan seems to be her father. But this is just a detail that doesn't affect the story.

Más que un hombre (2007)

An interesting view on Argentinian recent history from a homosexual perspective

[8/10 · 3 January 2010]

This film is sort of a hidden jewel, you'll specially enjoy it if you have some background in Argentina's recent history. In short, the dictatorship kidnapped people who where thought to be part of communist guerrillas. This one in particular is the story of Telmo, a homosexual tailor living in a small town with his mother, whose house is suddenly invaded by one of these supposed guerrilla fighters, which he names Olaf to disguise his real identity. Turns out Telmo helps this guy hide from the military but it all gets complicated because he's currently working on the wedding dress of the daughter of the general who is chasing Olaf. The acting by Luis Ziembroski as Telmo is incredible and believable, shows what a good actor he is. I wouldn't give thumbs up to Dady Brieva's portrayal of a homosexual which I think is a little over the top and kind of tacky, but that's pretty normal because he's been a comedy actor all his life and has that sort of sketchy style. If Dady's character (Norberto) hadn't been there, the film wouldn't have suffered much, though he adds some spice at times and some comedy as he interacts with Telmo. And of course, he is the co-director. The photography is pretty good, sceneries are quite simple but it works well as it is, and the editing is very dynamic and keeps you interested, my compliments to Gerardo Vallina and Dady Brieva for the direction and Ricardo De Angelis for the photography. The script is solid too and I think the dramatic subjects this movie deals with are developed with a lot of respect and good taste. All in all, a good surprise and I would certainly recommend it, specially if you're Argentinean, but I think people from other countries with a little background knowledge would enjoy it as well.

The Einstein of Sex (1999)

Original look at the life of a pioneer

[9/10 · 7 May 2009]

Rosa Von Praunheim does a funny representation of the life of one of the first true pioneers of the research in sexuality, Magnus Hirschfield. Who developed theories explaining human sexuality 60 years before Kinsey. Von Pranheim gives us a drama with a touch of sense of humor, like for example when Magnus takes the chief of police to all the gay places in town and makes him dance with his transvestite collaborator! Other sweet moments are when Magnus masturbates using an antique plugged onto his penis; or when he invites the visitors of the institution to feel the warmth of a giant penis carved out of an elephant's horn. Praunheim doesn't save on commentary and opinion either, he ridicules the role of the so called male homosexuals that follow the Greek tradition and reject sissies and fairies, by showing the excessively strong handshake and their failed bravery (they go to war and get killed) through which they seek to overcompensate for their sexual orientation. It's also notable how he puts his transvestite maid, Dorchen, in a role where she makes herself get respected by the Nazi youth, towards the end. The director isn't short on explicit images, he's not afraid of showing nude men, close-ups of genitalia or a scene of spanking; this is also a way of protesting against the conventionalism and censorship that cinema imposes on itself in order to appeal to the masses. Despite being a low budget telefilm with sub-par photography and camera work, I think this movie is a jewel of freedom, irony, and shows the style of a director that, within the kitsch, is also as advocate as Magnus Hirschfield himself was for the rights of the LGBT community.