El Leyton
Sahara Films
NEW YORK -- Simultaneously underdeveloped and overcooked, this Chilean melodrama depicting the tragic consequences resulting from an adulterous love triangle attempts to have the portentous weight of a biblical allegory. While its more extreme elements are less than convincing, "El Leyton" does boast an undeniable exoticism that makes its all-too-familiar elements more palatable. This feature from director Gonzalo Justiniano ("B-Happy") is receiving its U.S. theatrical premiere at New York's Quad Cinema.
The tale is told in flashback form, beginning with the return of the bedraggled, one-eyed title character to his rural seaside village. Leyton (Juan Pablo Saez), begging the villagers' forgiveness, proceeds to tell his story and attempt to provide justification for his actions.
It seems that he was partners with his best friend Modesto (Luis Wigdorsky) in a fishing business, when the latter fell in love with and married the beautiful and demure Marta (Siboney Lo). Modesto, rough-hewed and inexperienced in love, proves a less-than-exciting husband for his wife, who soon enters a depressed and sexually deprived state. Enter Leyton, the village bon vivant and playboy, who decides to take advantage of the situation by seducing the initially resistant but ultimately agreeable Marta.
Needless to say, the liaison, which becomes less than a secret to the rest of the community, eventually becomes known to the outraged Modesto, who proves to be less of a patsy than previously assumed by the reckless Leyton.
Ultimately, there's little to distinguish this tale from the countless similar efforts that have preceded it, other than the exoticism of its setting. The performers do manage to bring some life to their characters: Saez makes Leyton strangely likable despite his often violently aggressive behavior, Wigdorsky brings some odd and intriguing grace notes to his portrayal of the hapless but ultimately violent Modesto, and Lo well delineates Marta's gradual sexual awakening.
NEW YORK -- Simultaneously underdeveloped and overcooked, this Chilean melodrama depicting the tragic consequences resulting from an adulterous love triangle attempts to have the portentous weight of a biblical allegory. While its more extreme elements are less than convincing, "El Leyton" does boast an undeniable exoticism that makes its all-too-familiar elements more palatable. This feature from director Gonzalo Justiniano ("B-Happy") is receiving its U.S. theatrical premiere at New York's Quad Cinema.
The tale is told in flashback form, beginning with the return of the bedraggled, one-eyed title character to his rural seaside village. Leyton (Juan Pablo Saez), begging the villagers' forgiveness, proceeds to tell his story and attempt to provide justification for his actions.
It seems that he was partners with his best friend Modesto (Luis Wigdorsky) in a fishing business, when the latter fell in love with and married the beautiful and demure Marta (Siboney Lo). Modesto, rough-hewed and inexperienced in love, proves a less-than-exciting husband for his wife, who soon enters a depressed and sexually deprived state. Enter Leyton, the village bon vivant and playboy, who decides to take advantage of the situation by seducing the initially resistant but ultimately agreeable Marta.
Needless to say, the liaison, which becomes less than a secret to the rest of the community, eventually becomes known to the outraged Modesto, who proves to be less of a patsy than previously assumed by the reckless Leyton.
Ultimately, there's little to distinguish this tale from the countless similar efforts that have preceded it, other than the exoticism of its setting. The performers do manage to bring some life to their characters: Saez makes Leyton strangely likable despite his often violently aggressive behavior, Wigdorsky brings some odd and intriguing grace notes to his portrayal of the hapless but ultimately violent Modesto, and Lo well delineates Marta's gradual sexual awakening.
- 7/9/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
El Leyton
Sahara Films
NEW YORK -- Simultaneously underdeveloped and overcooked, this Chilean melodrama depicting the tragic consequences resulting from an adulterous love triangle attempts to have the portentous weight of a biblical allegory. While its more extreme elements are less than convincing, "El Leyton" does boast an undeniable exoticism that makes its all-too-familiar elements more palatable. This feature from director Gonzalo Justiniano ("B-Happy") is receiving its U.S. theatrical premiere at New York's Quad Cinema.
The tale is told in flashback form, beginning with the return of the bedraggled, one-eyed title character to his rural seaside village. Leyton (Juan Pablo Saez), begging the villagers' forgiveness, proceeds to tell his story and attempt to provide justification for his actions.
It seems that he was partners with his best friend Modesto (Luis Wigdorsky) in a fishing business, when the latter fell in love with and married the beautiful and demure Marta (Siboney Lo). Modesto, rough-hewed and inexperienced in love, proves a less-than-exciting husband for his wife, who soon enters a depressed and sexually deprived state. Enter Leyton, the village bon vivant and playboy, who decides to take advantage of the situation by seducing the initially resistant but ultimately agreeable Marta.
Needless to say, the liaison, which becomes less than a secret to the rest of the community, eventually becomes known to the outraged Modesto, who proves to be less of a patsy than previously assumed by the reckless Leyton.
Ultimately, there's little to distinguish this tale from the countless similar efforts that have preceded it, other than the exoticism of its setting. The performers do manage to bring some life to their characters: Saez makes Leyton strangely likable despite his often violently aggressive behavior, Wigdorsky brings some odd and intriguing grace notes to his portrayal of the hapless but ultimately violent Modesto, and Lo well delineates Marta's gradual sexual awakening.
NEW YORK -- Simultaneously underdeveloped and overcooked, this Chilean melodrama depicting the tragic consequences resulting from an adulterous love triangle attempts to have the portentous weight of a biblical allegory. While its more extreme elements are less than convincing, "El Leyton" does boast an undeniable exoticism that makes its all-too-familiar elements more palatable. This feature from director Gonzalo Justiniano ("B-Happy") is receiving its U.S. theatrical premiere at New York's Quad Cinema.
The tale is told in flashback form, beginning with the return of the bedraggled, one-eyed title character to his rural seaside village. Leyton (Juan Pablo Saez), begging the villagers' forgiveness, proceeds to tell his story and attempt to provide justification for his actions.
It seems that he was partners with his best friend Modesto (Luis Wigdorsky) in a fishing business, when the latter fell in love with and married the beautiful and demure Marta (Siboney Lo). Modesto, rough-hewed and inexperienced in love, proves a less-than-exciting husband for his wife, who soon enters a depressed and sexually deprived state. Enter Leyton, the village bon vivant and playboy, who decides to take advantage of the situation by seducing the initially resistant but ultimately agreeable Marta.
Needless to say, the liaison, which becomes less than a secret to the rest of the community, eventually becomes known to the outraged Modesto, who proves to be less of a patsy than previously assumed by the reckless Leyton.
Ultimately, there's little to distinguish this tale from the countless similar efforts that have preceded it, other than the exoticism of its setting. The performers do manage to bring some life to their characters: Saez makes Leyton strangely likable despite his often violently aggressive behavior, Wigdorsky brings some odd and intriguing grace notes to his portrayal of the hapless but ultimately violent Modesto, and Lo well delineates Marta's gradual sexual awakening.
- 12/10/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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