Hawaii

I watched this movie last night and really enjoyed it. The two leads are attractive and enjoyable to watch, and the acting was wonderful - the unspoken attraction was very evident on their faces - and the slow build up rather than just one pouncing on the other immediately was a refreshing change.

The film's quiet scenes to me were actually a great metaphor for the unspoken attraction....how often do we find ourselves attracted to someone and longing to tell them, but remaining silent and just 'observing' them from a distance? There was a subtle beauty in the non-dialogue filled moments that allowed the actors to convey what the characters were feeling through their eyes, their smiles, etc.

This being a foreign film was, to me, a lot better than it would have been as an American made offering. I have enjoyed many American made gay films, but I have to confess that the foreign ones are, to me, overall better in story and quality, plus the gorgeous scenery of the locations are a plus as well.

Gay-themed films, which I watch a lot of, have to go a long, long way to surpass what has become my favorite in years (Esteros) but this film definitely ranks up in the pack of ones I've really enjoyed over time.

¡Qué buena película! Although it's very slow and the "music" is a little distracting at times, especially during the extended beginning sequence, this is an excellent Spanish-language gay-themed movie from Argentina.

The camera and director linger on small details and gestures, and create a very credible atmosphere and true tension and drama despite very little dialog.

I enjoyed this movie so much that I almost immediately watched it again. Perhaps not for those who prefer fast-paced action movies, I found this movie to be very engaging, interesting and fulfilling.

Highly recommended.

One of my favorite gay films ever. A charming tale about a young man (Martín, played by Mateo Chiarino) who is down on his luck, homeless and poor much of his life who returns to his birth town and randomly goes to work for a childhood friend (Eugenio, played by Manuel Vignau) as a handy man. The wealthy Eugenio, who is gay, takes a liking to the attractive Martin and eventually provides him with clothes and a place to stay. Eugenio subtly hits on Eugenio, who is seemingly blind to the advances. Both characters are deftly played, very nice directing and a storyline that at times is suspenseful. Won't give a spoiler but the ending is worthy sticking around for. Very enjoyable movie! Parental alert: frontal nudity by both actors, but not overboard with it.

Finally got to see Hawaii by one of my favorite filmmakers, Argentine Marco Berger. I was not disappointed, what a beautiful film full of tension, beautiful imagery and fantastic mood. Manuel Vignau, whom we've seen in Berger's film Plan B is mature in this film, exciting, intriguing. And balancing this portrayal is the also fantastic Mateo Chiarino. Both are just purely fantastic. The film is full of layers that are to be explored and understood for emotional context and in there is where you find the strength of this film which is full of silence, yet so much is being told. I personally love films like this and Mr. Berger is a master at showing and not telling, yet the small moments of conversation between the characters seem so full of importance and nuance you cannot help but to completely lose yourself in their story, this is a film that deserves a watch and maybe a couple more after that.

I was first introduced to Marco Berger with "Plan B", still one of my favorite films. In both that film and "Hawaii" Mr. Berger has done some of the finest modern story-telling I've had the pleasure to experience.

These are definitely NOT American films - they are slow to develop, sparse on dialogue and largely visual in nature. Those qualities by themselves make these films creative and interesting. But it is the development of both the story and the characters that really bring the films to life.

The single item that makes a film work (in my estimation) is whether or not an audience can feel that a character has come to life in the film - has come alive, feels real to us. "Hawaii" does that every bit as effectively as "Plan B." It is an additional measure of quality (and a great treat) that a film have more to say to an audience on a second, third or fourth viewing. Both of these films do that handily.

It is of particular note in this film to watch the slow building of a relationship between these two men. And, as in "Plan B", their sexuality in some respects is incidental to the connection the men in both films form. There is a breadth and depth to these relationships that seems rare these days in film.

Can't recommend both "Plan B" and "Hawaii" enough. Outstanding films.