At its heart, this film is a moving story of identity, courage, and inner freedom, focusing on an intersex person's struggle to understand their true self. The decision to cast an actual intersex actor for the lead role deserves applause. This appears to be a remake of a classic film of same name released in 1972; however, because I haven't seen that version, I lack a point of comparison, which works in my favor. The story takes place in Spain and follows Adela, a woman in her twenties who is the only child of a conservative couple in a small provincial town. Most of her time is spent working in the family antique shop, living a life defined by her mother's total silence regarding Adela's intersex condition—a condition that has caused her significant social discrimination—and her mother's overprotectiveness. Adela finds small, strange pockets of normalcy despite these restrictions, finding her only real outlet for free conversation in a gay priest. This quiet existence is disrupted by the arrival of two new people. A male friend returns from London and shares a kiss with her, and around that same time, a lively lesbian physiotherapist enters her life. For the first time, Adela feels like herself and experiences true freedom while around the physiotherapist. Yet, she remains caught in a struggle over her own sexual and gender identity. Seeing the physiotherapist kiss another woman is a devastating blow. The situation reaches a breaking point when Adela learns the truth about her intersex condition: her parents had her undeveloped testicles removed without her…
While this rom com shows real potential, it ultimately fails to cash in on it. The concept sounds fun on paper and possesses the makings of a genuinely funny film, yet the execution never quite gets there. Instead of attempting anything bold or memorable, the movie settles for doing just enough to keep you watching, leaving even the central romance feeling pretty flat. After being left at the altar on his wedding day, London chef Harry is whisked away to the Canary Islands by his best friend, Yaiza, who hopes the trip will help him recover from the devastation. Upon arrival, Yaiza realizes her friends have committed to hosting a wedding event that could significantly boost their business, yet they lack a chef. To distract himself from thoughts of his ex, Harry offers to step in and handle the cooking. His trip takes a turn one night when, after getting quite drunk, he nearly drowns in the ocean and is rescued by an incredibly good looking stranger. The two share a kiss on the beach before Yaiza finds Harry and brings him back to her family home—a resort run by her wonderfully eccentric mother and her father, Ivan, who works occasionally as a fisherman. It turns out Ivan is the mystery guy who saved Harry. Although they talk and agree the kiss was nothing more than a mistake, the situation evolves when the brides request traditional local dishes for the wedding. Yaiza suggests Harry take cooking lessons from her dad, an excellent chef, and Harry reluctantly agrees, largely out of…
In Oaxaca, southern Mexico, the Zapotec people recognize muxes as a third gender, living out their identities in a non-binary way. Because Mexican culture is largely machista, muxes frequently take on caregiver roles, earning significant respect for both their contributions and their very existence. Rather than a standard movie, this film acts as a piece of visual art that immerses you in the actual experience of being a muxe. I cannot imagine another film that operates so much like a painting brought to life. It is a vibrant burst of creativity and culture, overflowing with life, love, and genuine heartbreak. Even if you do not walk away loving it strictly as a story, the sheer vividness and beauty of the visuals are undeniable. Centering on a community of muxes who challenge the binary concept of gender, the film tracks three individuals—Delirio, Amaranta, and Mariano—as they navigate their pasts, presents, and futures in search of what they lack. As the group's elder, Delirio mentors the younger muxes while simultaneously managing the solitary care of her aging mother and refusing to yield to the sexist, heteropatriarchal harassment from the men in her life; she also deals with a lover in Finland who sends letters but avoids any real commitment. Amaranta struggles with the rejection of her violent, angry father, who remains unable to accept his son's third gender identity, and her life is further marked by a lack of love, exemplified by a straight man who only visits when it is convenient for him. Meanwhile, Mariano is a teenager still discovering his…
Who Wants to Marry an Astronaut? is a light Spanish gay romantic comedy about a man whose wedding fantasy survives longer than his relationship. Predictable and sometimes flimsy, it still charms thanks to its energetic lead, playful tone, and refusal to drown queer romance in tragedy.
