Men of Hard Skin

I had the weirdest hour watching the film as it traverse you to the uncanny and unprecedented chambers of romance and trauma weaved together into a single film. Its one gem lies on how it handled the bitter truths about sexual abuse, acceptance, and homosexual struggle, as well as a working poor on wits end, coercion, or simply being tangled everyday between a rock and a hard place, which makes it so painful because it's true.

There was no glamour or stirring scene, but rather dour, unpleasant upbringing attitudes except for the sister, Betina. There were no payoffs especially to the affair he had with Julio (Juan Salmieri). And suffocating chemistry he has with Ramirez, uninteresting main character with generic acting from Ariel (Wall Javier) and most of its minor characters dragging the already drab storyline.

The movie came out 2019 but it looks so rustic and frumpish, it felt being in the 90's soap operas of uninteresting slow burn genre with no direction. The plot goes haywire by the second and trivially introduces character that doesn't by any chance glue the film cohesively or make any difference.

Personally, the story felt like an old, erotic novel, or an afternoon drama flick series for adults in their 60's that have 600+ episodes that pays more attention to the sex details rather than the life after the sex, of which unfortunately made into a one film. ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Story wise? It has potential. Execution? Painful.

I have passed the last 1.5 hours watching this movie and I don't know what to say honestly, it is entertaining but I don't know what to say I've never been speechless before I think you have to watch and see for yourself I do recommend the movie.

I feel like that the whole movie and the story was a bit lost and should have been a really good movie but it wasn't.

As he film starts we become aware that the abuse of Ariel by the family priest is over. The reverend has other fish to fry as we find out later in the film. This priest is not even remotely a character we can sympathise with. His penchant for young boys is one that he pays lip service to try to end, but he gives in to his desires without caring about the harm he is doing.

I have seen some reviews here and elsewhere that say that none of the male characters in the film is remotely likeable or capable of commiserating with. However, I'd make a couple of exceptions. The elderly priest on retreat at least had led an exemplary life for many years after his youthful indiscretions. And I don't find that the farmhand who embarks on a physical relationship with Ariel is as evil as people are making out. Remember the context. This isn't downtown Buenos Aires, this is the back of beyond where homosexuality is despised. His personal circumstances, trapped as he is, lead him to release with Ariel.

The father is utterly loathsome, a product of his locale and upbringing. His shaky grasp of psychology and his homophobia lead to emotional trauma for his son.

The female characters are gems. Ariel's sister and his "girlfriend" Zulma are complicit in his deceptions. Zulma even manages to find him a love interest.

Nonetheless, despite the half happy ending, there's a real sense in the film of the consequences of adult desires having been inflicted on an unformed mind. Love and affection are misplaced by Ariel onto the very people who didn't necessarily deserve it and lead him to seek others who cannot give him the true feelings he craves. He found a niche in the end, but at what cost?