Description

José 2018
Not Rated | 1h 25min | Drama | 31 January 2020 (USA)
Storyline:José (19 years old) lives with his Mother (50s) in Guatemala: a tough life in one of the most violent and religious countries. His life is his phone, crowded buses, work in the street and random sex. When he meets Luis, he’s thrust into new-found passion and pain.User review:Jose is the only child who is still living at home with his mother, with both having to start a commute before dawn to their respective jobs. Jose’s sexual release is with men in a hotel that rents rooms by the hour. When offered chances for a long-term relationship, Jose has a battle between love and loyalty to his mother.I saw this film at the Inside Out LGBT film festival, with a Q+A with the co-writer. The director and writers spent time in Central America interviewing subjects, and this is a composite of their research. Unfortunately, references to Guatemalan culture and history could be lost to foreigners. Rather crucial to the story is the frequency mothers may hang on to their youngest children to avoid being alone (there is a reference to Jose’s sisters). Other references are to a civil war and an earthquake, both of which killer a great number of people, but may be extraneous to the main theme of choices in life.The film is shot in a raw, gritty style, but that suits the environment the characters live in.
Director: Li Cheng
Writers: Li Cheng, George F. Roberson
Stars: Enrique Salanic, Manolo Herrera, Ana Cecilia Mota
Country: Guatemala | USA
Language: Spanish
Release Date: 31 January 2020 (USA)
Also Known As: José
Filming Locations: Guatemala City, Guatemala
IMDB Profile tt6933338

José (2018)

2020-01-31

6.7

Director: Li Cheng

Writers: Li Cheng, George F. Roberson

Stars: Enrique Salanic, Manolo Herrera, Ana Cecilia Mota

Summary: José lives with his mother in Guatemala. It's a tough life in one of the most violent and religious countries. When he meets Luis, he's thrust into new-found passion and pain.

Also known as: José (2018) on DVD