It's a shame the Hispanic culture is eternally fearful of homosexuality. I'm not sure whether it's the infectious Catholicism or macho ideal that has brought this about but it's in their DNA to the bone. I've been out as a gay man all my life really but 'officially' since my early 20s in the 1960s/70s. Surely I'm a contemporary of the elder character in this film. He is truly sad but wise enough to realize it's of his own doing. He 'set the stage' for life of despair and regret.
It would have had much more of an impact if they had had the courage to use a male actor to portray a gay male character. Although the actress is very good, her latent physical femininity, features, movements and voice ruin the effect. She is a drag queen in reverse. The end result is one of less impact--a real weakness. In my own life I've known many gay men of these Med. Cultures (Spanish, Italian, Black, Greek, etc.) and they all have mother complexes, daddy issues and keep some part of their lives closeted always. This leaves them living unauthentic lives that deprive everyone of genuine connection with them. Sad.
It would have had much more of an impact if they had had the courage to use a male actor to portray a gay male character. Although the actress is very good, her latent physical femininity, features, movements and voice ruin the effect. She is a drag queen in reverse. The end result is one of less impact--a real weakness. In my own life I've known many gay men of these Med. Cultures (Spanish, Italian, Black, Greek, etc.) and they all have mother complexes, daddy issues and keep some part of their lives closeted always. This leaves them living unauthentic lives that deprive everyone of genuine connection with them. Sad.
