Luz (2020) User Reviews

Steady development

[laduqesa · 7/10 · 28 August 2021]

This film was two hours long, but I wasn't bored at all. The director and writer were adept at letting bits of the back story drip into the narrative of everyday prison life. Ruben, for all his diffidence and unworldliness showed he could adapt to life inside and hold his own with the best of them and that best was Carlos, with whom he shared a cell.

This wasn't a predictable drama. It wasn't just guys getting frustrated and making out. There was an overarching story. Ruben, especially, opened up and told Carlos about his past and was honest about it, especially about why he was in prison. The scene the morning after the lovemaking really affected me. Ernesto Reyes's acting was impeccable here.

Moving into the future, matters needed to be resolved regarding family arrangements. I was less convinced by the last fifteen minutes of the film, especially by the way the writer had chosen to impart tension. What we heard offscreen was unnecessary and, in my view, amateurish.

I can't say much more without getting into spoilers as this film had a linear narrative. It was well worth watching and I'd recommend it.

Great story

[miss-sephora · 7/10 · 6 April 2021]

I liked this movie. It moved me, It felt raw and intimate. The actors played well. A big plus with the good happy ending. Every gay movie deserves a good ending. Excellent surprise.

Good film

[agharipaawan · 7/10 · 14 April 2021]

Great story. Seriously well done with some quality acting. A must watch.

Well made

[BandSAboutMovies · 6/10 · 20 March 2021]

Ruben and Carlos (Ernesto Reyes and Jesse Tayeh) are two men who have met in prison. Ruben is there because of an accident, which causes him problems with the cartel he works for and the family he comes from. Within the walls of the jail, the two men find comfort, stability and what seems like love with one another. But is it real? Or is it just a port in a storm?

Director and writer Jon Garcia tells an intriguing story here. While not a movie I would look for on my own, I grew to appreciate the love between the two men despite the very macho world that they both come from. LUZ does not shy away from showing every aspect of their story, with some very well-shot love scenes.

I did not know what to expect

[donoliver-55195 · 7/10 · 29 January 2023]

I started watching expecting to exit the movie as soon as it became a brutal display of violence.

I had a problem with the whispering of the exchanges of the characters. Maybe me, maybe my TV.

My deceased partner of 18 years went to prison for having a joint in his pocket passed out on a sofa at a party he went to that was raided.

So I continued watching because I was unsure as to why he was there. I need to know.

As it continued It became a love story in the worst of places.

I was.totally in on it. Had to see it through to the end.

And I was totally scared that the ending would be devastating.

My partner was working in a prison work program clearing asbestos from a property.

He died of cancer.

Beautiful

[dmoorejdrf · 10/10 · 3 May 2021]

This movie was beautifully written and beautifully acted! Most prison movies focus on violence and rarely on the human relationships. From the beginning we see our two main characters learn to build trust before exposing their tender sides. The chemistry between the male leads is dynamite! I easily believed that these two men, characters and actors could fall in love with each other. I would love for the story to have dug a little deeper into the growing affection between the two but there was a lot of story to tell in a relatively short period of time. We were given an ending that was befitting of the story! The acting was so convincing that you wonder if perhaps a true relationship between the two actors continued after filming. Loved this movie!

Surprisingly good

[najeebspencershasan · 9/10 · 17 July 2021]

The best thing about this prison drama was not about violence macho characters and all we had seen in many movies! The high point of the movie was romance in prison.. surprisingly well done! And the characters are so well written that you get involved and it really touches you, though we knew there could be 2 endings and it's predictable but we still go forward to see that happiness ! One star less is only due to lack of some depths from some characters.

7.1/10? Seriously?

[razmale_kl · 5/10 · 23 July 2021]

I don't get the high rating. This is just an average movie about prison romance and love. Nothing we haven't seen before. Nothing extraordinary about this. The sex scene was obviously an act and looking so fake. The top guy won't even kiss his partner properly. Not even a French kiss. Don't get me start on the acting. His acting was really bad. He is obviously a gay for pay actor. He need to go to acting class.

Beautiful and meaningful

[apollon-17262 · 9/10 · 13 April 2021]

This is an excellent movie. 100% must watch. Great story, excellent acting.

Boring

[vesicpeter · 1/10 · 6 April 2021]

This movie was so predictable. The story line was average at best and the action was quite average also.

I was looking forward to watching this but ended up quite disappointed.

An Excellent Surprise

[marc88 · 10/10 · 21 April 2021]

This is the gay movie that I have longed to see where the main characters gayness is merely incidental to the film. It's a story with many plots going and not about their sexuality.

The only problem I had was with the sound when they were inside the prison. They said much that I couldn't understand which might because of the acoustics within the prison walls.

Otherwise I give props to the creators who made such a daring film.

The movie was long but well worth it!!

[bgoo-19890 · 10/10 · 17 December 2021]

I am a gay man with no talent..just opinions.

This is a story that Jon Garcia wrote and directed in a poignant and touching way. Mr. Garcia deftly avoided the traps of "another love in prison" movie. Mr. Garcia deftly meshed the back story into the day to day of prison. I was already a fan of Mr. Garcia's movies from his "Falls" series. I didn't know that fact till I started writing this review. Ernesto Reyes as Ruben and. Jesse Tayeh as Carlos gave stellar performances as the stars of the pic. Even the cinematography was so smooth of the calbre of and Big budget movie coming to theaters. Twell worth it and you definitely need to watch all the way through!

Excellent film

[jamesguam · 10/10 · 11 April 2021]

I had been waiting for this films release and I was not disappointed. It was very well done and I thought it had good story like, also very well acted. It may be a slight problem for non Spanish speakers as a few lines are in Spanish, but not a major concern.

Loved it

[ty_lattimore2007 · 8/10 · 5 July 2022]

This movie was real worth the wait. It was written well and shot superbly. I was not sure what to expect. The lead actors are incredible and stunning to look at. Very relatable and topical. Not your typical gay movie or even jail movie.

Immaculate.

[raywalk-32246 · 10/10 · 1 August 2021]

This movie is brilliant. A trip. I highly recommend.