The delicate freshness represents the lead virtue of this short film about friendship and its ambiguous limits. A night. And the change of a relation. The morning after. And the shame, desire, memories. A beginning or only an end. Important - just the manner of storytelling, precise, inspired, gentle. Wise work with profound touches of realism. Its beautiful-seductive freshness remains the great virtue of "El amigo". And, sure, the fine performances.
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Kirpianuscus14 April 2019
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THE GOOD FRIEND story begins when Esteban meets Marcos to relax with some fresh lemonade after a long day of work. This is shown by the fact that Marcos is shirtless, and all from the beginning we can see Esteban's look lingering over Marcos' torso. We can say that both characters correspond somehow to a stereotype of their sexual orientation; indeed, Esteban he is a homosexual, he seems shyer, maybe less expansive, while Marcos is heterosexual and has a girlfriend and do not hesitate to show off his manliness, so that he is not taken for something else than a heterosexual. Although, these stereotypes are not negatives, it remains quite subtle, and it is established that Esteban and Marcos are only good friends, all in all this is a very common situation. For a major part of the narrative, they indeed act like good friends, joking around, gently making fun of the others, drinking beer and eating pizza in front of adult films. These moments they spend on the couch together (which represent a good third of the short narrative) are going to settle the atmosphere, giving the audience some clues, bit by bits, of what is going to happen between them. For example, the movie they see is about sex, and they keep talking and joking about sex. At this moment, he receives a call from her – it is worth noting that his ringtone is the voice of a woman telling him in a smooth voice that the 'handsome man' he is, is receiving a call, so much for the manliness display. The call is from her girlfriend, whom he had to accompany to one of her friend's birthday party, yet he doesn't want to go and will lie to her with the excuse of having too much work to stay the night at Esteban's apartment. During this phone call, Esteban tries to imitate a girl having orgasm in the background to annoy and embarrass his friend, common male joke if there ever were one, and another clue related to sex. As Marcos finishes his beer, Esteban jokes around about his belly, which is going to swell if he drinks too much which could lead his girlfriend to leave him; this is the first time they kid by touching each other, which goes a step further into the main plot. This is how they begin talking more 'seriously' about their sex life – while they keep laughing about the movie – especially Marcos' sexual issues with his girlfriend, how she is louder when she's drunk for example or how she does not like to give him oral sex. As Marcos is going to stay the night, they make the bed by putting sheets on the couch. Before sleeping he decides to light a bong (could we see a phallic symbol in here?). However, he needs more weed to put in it, and while searching for it in the drawer he finds his Esteban's dildo; that's only another occasion for them to joke around, but now Marcos is in his underwear – as he was putting his clothes of we saw Marcos look once again – so we feel like these jibes are less and less innocent. Esteban is sitting on the bed, in front of Marcos who is standing, and the crafting makes it very clear that Esteban is checking out on Marcos' crotch as the camera puts itself on his point of view. Then Esteban puts himself in his underwear as he goes to bed too, not acting on his obvious sexual urge, because he is a respectful friend. But while going back in the living room, Marcos sticks a splinter in his feet, so Esteban raises and go help him. This brings them closer, and now both half naked next to one another on the couch. As Marcos 'innocently' puts an arm around Esteban on the top of the couch, his thigh slightly touch that of Esteban. Uncomfortable, the latter goes in the bathroom. However, as he goes out, he finds Esteban in the bedroom sitting on his bed and obviously waiting for him. After a slow and very shy approach of Marcos, both finally give in to their sexual urge and have a passionate relation. It is the morning, Marcos is woken up by his ringtone, his girlfriend is calling him. After a quick shower, he dresses himself and prepares to leave, although Esteban tries to have a conversation about what happened during the night. But Marcos avoid the subject and even pretend that nothing happens, he even implies that they won't be having another night together before some time. Thus, he lives, Esteban must stay 'THE GOOD FRIEND'.
This short narrative is smartly crafted and manages to give clues about its point in very different manners; the dialogues between the characters (all the joking around and sex references), the shots (for example, all the moments on the couch are a sequence shot, took with a camera put in the corner of the room, the same place it would have been in an amateur adult movie). This is reinforce by a subdued lighting, this way showing that this is not only a matter of mere sexual urge but also of feelings. Because this is not an idiot plot at all, of just two guys randomly making out with each other and one regretting it afterwards, this is a real story which tries to explain the struggles one might encounter with its sexuality, and tackles a common issue which is the definition of sexual identity, and he fact that there is no label that can forever define you, because what you think you 'are' can change, and what you think you like can also be changed when you meet a very special person to you. This work is an invitation to be comfort with yourself, and all so very importantly to respect other people in their life choices.