I do not want to write very much about this film, except to say that it is exceptional. The beginning is wonderful, where one of the actors plays like the child he still is. It is so perfectly done that it brings back memories of childhood. Then he meets the other boy, and the get to know each other and take the temperature of their friendship; the rest I will let you see for yourself. what is exceptional about this film is that none of the traditional Hollywood tricks is used here. The only thing which is presented, and why it works so well, is that the Director takes his time, letting the actors FIND the emotion as it slowly builds. it is so rare to see a film where emotion finds its way, instead of being automatic and forced. This makes it so much more real than most of what one sees today - with music swelling in the background to tell us what we , the spectators, should be feeling. In other words, in this film, it gives everyone the time to feel; instead of telling us what to feel, it lets us discover ...ourselves.
8 Reviews
Better than expected.
ekeby7 August 2016
Warning: Spoilers
It's a two-character gay road trip movie. Couple that with a "coming of age" story and a character who videotapes all the time and you've got a recipe for a big bag of clichés.
Amazingly, this film managed to hold my interest, despite my lowered expectations, and despite very prosaic material. I can't tell you how many times I thought, okay, I've seen enough. But I stuck with it until the end. I think the movie works in spite of itself. While the boys do not take peyote, they are certainly tripping.
One interesting factoid in the dialog reveals that a prominent figure in the Mexican revolution was gay. The boy who tells this also says, this is not something that got into the history books. And he would be right, so far as I know. I was all over the internet trying to confirm; I couldn't. But I found out a lot of very interesting stuff about this man that I would never have known about otherwise. I'm not Mexican, but I went to university in Mexico, so this was fascinating to me.
Can I recommend this movie? Not really. Unless you want to see how this director overcame some of the limitations that come with a two-character, low budget, road trip movie. I think Spanish-speakers may have a better appreciation for the film. As is often the case, the subtitles don't do justice to the actual dialog.
Amazingly, this film managed to hold my interest, despite my lowered expectations, and despite very prosaic material. I can't tell you how many times I thought, okay, I've seen enough. But I stuck with it until the end. I think the movie works in spite of itself. While the boys do not take peyote, they are certainly tripping.
One interesting factoid in the dialog reveals that a prominent figure in the Mexican revolution was gay. The boy who tells this also says, this is not something that got into the history books. And he would be right, so far as I know. I was all over the internet trying to confirm; I couldn't. But I found out a lot of very interesting stuff about this man that I would never have known about otherwise. I'm not Mexican, but I went to university in Mexico, so this was fascinating to me.
Can I recommend this movie? Not really. Unless you want to see how this director overcame some of the limitations that come with a two-character, low budget, road trip movie. I think Spanish-speakers may have a better appreciation for the film. As is often the case, the subtitles don't do justice to the actual dialog.
interesting road trip adventure hecho en Mexico -- spoilers --
ksf-25 October 2016
Warning: Spoilers
SPOILERS -- All kinds of issues going on in this one. Two dudes meet up, and end up taking a random road trip across the Mexican country-side, ostensibly to find peyote. Along the way, we watch them face issues like parental/emotional issues, passive aggressive behavior issues, class issues, coming out issues, among others. One has lots of piercings, and never seems to have any money. The other is pretty clean-cut, and has problems standing up for himself, and doesn't seem to mind doling out money; or maybe it was worth it to him to spend time with the other guy... love (or lust) makes us do wacky things. It's a little confusing... not sure if they ever DID find peyote, or maybe one just got over-heated in the hot sun. By the end, they point out the other's shortcomings, face up to them, and seem to hit it off. Written and directed by Omar Flores Sarabia, who had only done short films up to this point. Quite well done, but was a tad confusing in some places. They spend a lot of time discussing the history of Real de Catorce... was that all a true history of the town? interesting stuff. Anyway. good watch. showing on FilmRise channel.
Minimalist story that draws you in
laurainmark17 February 2020
The movie opens with an endearing scene that establishes the innocence and adorable immaturity of Pablo. We soon meet Marco who is fun, but shrouded in toxic machismo. The pretext of finding peyote leads them on a journey where they discover feelings for one another. Despite being painfully uneventful I was too invested in the charectors to stop watching. The relationship was like a slow motion train wreck where you just want Pablo to quit whining and grow up and want Marco to stop being a jerk and open up and for the two of them to just kiss already and be together. This film is so relatable for the frustrated romantic in us all.
wasted possibilities
DJWinston24 June 2020
Even though motivations were confusing throughout, I stuck with this film because there was such potential for some moving realization in the relationship between the two characters.
But instead of giving us something, anything!, to show what these two guys meant to each other---heart, soul, or mind---the ending just let everything lay down and go to sleep. I can't tell you how disappointing I found the ending of this film. Such wasted possibilities.
But instead of giving us something, anything!, to show what these two guys meant to each other---heart, soul, or mind---the ending just let everything lay down and go to sleep. I can't tell you how disappointing I found the ending of this film. Such wasted possibilities.
Just the right length
laduqesa17 September 2020
I didn't know the director was known for short films until I read one of the other reviews. His foray into something longer got the length just right. At seventy minutes, there was exactly enough time for the slight and flimsy story.
It's a sort of road trip. I wouldn't call it a gay film particularly as both the lads, one older and more streetwise than the other, were meant to be straight. However, their night together at the hotel certainly deepened their bonding from being casual acquaintances who'd met the day before to something that became real affection and understanding.
I liked the bits of history thrown into the mix and found the ruined town fascinating. The background of the desert was also an ideal place for a few home truths.
For me, the film's ending was convincing. How else could it have finished?
I watched this at home on the TV. I'm glad I did.
It's a sort of road trip. I wouldn't call it a gay film particularly as both the lads, one older and more streetwise than the other, were meant to be straight. However, their night together at the hotel certainly deepened their bonding from being casual acquaintances who'd met the day before to something that became real affection and understanding.
I liked the bits of history thrown into the mix and found the ruined town fascinating. The background of the desert was also an ideal place for a few home truths.
For me, the film's ending was convincing. How else could it have finished?
I watched this at home on the TV. I'm glad I did.
Simple Mexican gay film
justahunch-7054921 June 2023
The first part of this 70 gay minute film is about a shy, innocent young man who is obviously a good kid who has thing for photography. He photographs everything or watches things through the camera's lens. Along comes a second character, older, seemingly trouble and the polar opposite of the young man, Pablo, we've been watching. For reasons that I at first could not figure, Pablo decides to go on a road trip with this unpleasant fellow. Turns out this is a coming out film and they "seem" to both be having a first time experience, though it's not clear. The unlikable one eventually becomes softer and less defensive and the film ends with the possibility of a budding romance. Pablo is played by Joe Diazzi who is very authentic with never a false moment. It's also the only film he has ever been in, at least up until 2023. Rather minor as a film, but he's very likable.
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A Search in the Desert
d319311 November 2020
A very promising first feature by Omar Flores Sarabia. For a while it feels slow paced, but in some ways that is the essence of this film, and also its beauty. An immature young man, alone for the weekend while his parents are at the beach, meets someone slightly older, but just as alone. They appear mismatched; certainly from different social backgrounds, but it is the slow and inevitable coming together that makes the film so compelling. A videocamera belonging to the younger and richer of the two becomes a clever tool in the telling of the story, which could so easily have become a bore.
Spot on performances and fine imagery here. With a cast of two and a minuscule crew, Sarabia has produced a small gem.
And the peyote? That's just a MacGuffin.
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