Strange Way Of Life

-

Strange Way of Life is a 2023 short film written and directed by Pedro Almod贸var, starring Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal. It is a queer love story set in an old western town in the early 20th century, inspired by the western genre and Ang Lee's film Brokeback Mountain.

 The short tells the reunion of two former mercenaries, Jake (Hawke) and Silva (Pascal), who had loved each other in an era when this love could not even be pronounced. Silva goes to see Jake, who is now the sheriff of the city, with the excuse of reuniting with his childhood friend, but in reality he has an ulterior motive: to dissuade him from chasing his son among the suspects of a murder.

 The short was shot in southern Spain, in a set built by Sergio Leone for the Dollar Trilogy, and is Almod贸var's second English-language experience after The Human Voice in 2020. The short was produced by a new production, Saint Laurent Productions, created by the creative director of the Saint Laurent fashion brand, Anthony Vaccarello, who also designed the film's costumes.

 My opinion on the short is very positive. Almod贸var manages to create an intense and engaging story, which breaks the silence about two mature and queer men who have traditionally remained silent in a genre like the western. The two protagonists are masterfully played by Hawke and Pascal, who convey the passion, pain and conflict that animate them with their gaze and body language. The photography and the soundtrack are treated in detail, and contribute to creating a suggestive and melancholy atmosphere. The short is also a tribute to old Hollywood westerns, as evidenced by Pascal's green jacket, which recalls that of James Stewart in Anthony Mann's Where the River Goes.

 In conclusion, Strange Way of Life is a short film that deserves to be seen, both for the skill of the director and the actors, and for the message of love and freedom it conveys. It is a small gem that enriches Almod贸var's filmography and demonstrates his ability to reinvent himself and surprise the public.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Insidious: The Red door

-
Image
Insidious: The Red Door is the latest chapter in the horror saga that began in 2010 with Insidious, directed by Patrick Wilson (also starring) and written by Scott Teems from a story by Leigh Whannell. The film takes up the story of the Lambert family, who must face once and for all the demons that haunt them from the world of the afterlife. Josh (Wilson) and Dalton (Ty Simpkins), father and son, must enter deeper than ever into the dark kingdom to discover the secret behind the red door, the source of all their nightmares. The film is proposed as a conclusive finale of the saga, but fails to convince or scare. Wilson's direction is flat and predictable, without the mastery and inventiveness of James Wan and Leigh Whannell, who had been able to create a disturbing and original atmosphere in the first two chapters. The script is confusing and repetitive, recycling the same elements from the previous films without adding anything new or interesting. The characters ar...
Read more

The Flash

-
Image
The Flash is a film that surprised me positively. Not being a big fan of the comic book character, I didn't have high expectations for this film, but I must say that I really enjoyed following the adventures of Barry Allen, played by a charismatic Ezra Miller. The film is based on the famous Flashpoint story arc, in which the protagonist travels back in time to save his mother and creates an alternate world full of dangers and surprises. The film manages to balance action, humor and emotion well, without ever being boring or too confusing. Andy Muschietti's direction is dynamic and engaging, and Benjamin Wallfisch's soundtrack is suitable for various situations. The film also has the merit of exploring the DC Comics multiverse, introducing characters such as Supergirl (Sasha Calle), General Zod (Michael Shannon) and above all Michael Keaton's Batman, who returns to take on the role of the Dark Knight after 30 years . The film is an homage to DC fans, b...
Read more

Renfield

-
Image
Renfield is a horror comedy that tries to reinvent the myth of Dracula from the point of view of his faithful assistant, Renfield. The film, directed by Chris McKay and starring Nicolas Cage and Nicholas Hoult, mixes black humor, action and gore in a story that wants to be funny and original, but that often turns out to be superficial and predictable. The film opens with a flashback that shows how Renfield, an English lawyer, became the familiar of Dracula after meeting him in Transylvania for a real estate matter. Since then, Renfield has served his master for centuries, providing him with human victims and enduring his mistreatment and humiliation. However, Renfield also has a secret life: he has fallen in love with a woman from New Orleans, Lucy (Awkwafina), who believes him to be a normal human. When Dracula discovers Renfield’s relationship, he decides to move to New Orleans to seduce Lucy and destroy his rebellious henchman. Renfield is a film that plays with the clic...
Read more