(2007, 85 min)
Country: Argentina
Director: Santiago Otheguy
Studio: Water Bearer Films
SYNOPSIS:
A must-see, La León is the solemn and lusty tale of a lone gay man in the Argentine jungle and his
difficulties with a river captain. Shot in stark black-and-white, Santiago Otheguy's film is a landmark of
queer cinema.
REVIEW:
Surrounded by water flowing in every direction through the lush jungle, Alvaro (Jorge Román) lives a solitary
existence harvesting reeds and fishing. Alvaro is a homosexual. We hesitate to use the term "gay" as there is
no subculture here with the local people, the "Isleños." No "gay ghetto," no clubs; just one man in the jungle.
The people here earn a living navigating the channels in makeshift boats as they harvest and sell the reeds
that grow along the riverbanks. The "Isleños" live a very placid, simple existence, fearing outsiders who
might disrupt their peaceful ways.
Early on in the film, Alvaro hooks up with a man on a speedboat, but his sexual releases seem few and far
between. The only link between this outpost and the outside world is the water-taxi "El León" and its captain,
El Turu (Daniel Valenzuela). El Turu is a mean man and a homophobe, whose bigotry is hiding his own sexual
identity issues. Their bitter yet interdependent relationship all comes to a head in a dramatic turn of events.
By turns contemplative and erotic, La León is a must-see for lovers of gay international cinema. The
acting is naturalistic, the story is compelling and the scenery is breathtaking. Take the long ride up the
Paraná River for a tale of misdeeds and lust in the spectacular scenery of the jungle.
(Spanish with English subtitles)
-- Scott Cranin
