3/10
Failed coming-of-age attempt.
23 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I was not impressed. The story (a sensitive and impressionable teen is lured into the wild, drugs-infused and sexually uninhibited party-circuit of Mexico City somwhere in the 80's) obviously intends to be something of a coming-of-age thing, but in fact there was nothing much of an emotional Werdegang or evolution to be seen. Carlos is (mis)guided by a sleazy guy who is smitten with him, he experiments with gay sex (as well as with drugs and political protests), and then suddenly finds out that he prefers straight sex and steps out. The end.

The retro-setting is convincingly done, there's an evident Patti Smith and Andy Warhol feel to all the club-scenes, so thumbs up for that. But visually the movie is very tiresome, with flashy and often grainy images, while the music consists of sudden and extremely loud bursts of underground-sounds, which is probably in style, but it doesn't help to make the movie more enjoyable. Neither does the acting, which is really below par. Especially Xabiani Ponce de León as main character Carlo is, in spite of his angelic looks, totally uncharismatic, he behaves like a pretty but unsympathetic wooden doll, and as a result you couldn't care less what happens to him.
4 out of 5 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Recently Viewed