Clandestinos

By: Scott Cranin
In-House Review - Oct 21 2008

A Spanish potboiler in which politics intertwine with gay love and beautiful teen stars, Clandestinos is one of this year's best guilty pleasures. The drama begins with three teens in a youth prison. And yes, there is the obligatory and very pleasurable shower scene. Xabi has been in and out of reform schools and prisons since he was a child. Once, while out on the streets briefly, he meets and falls in love with Iñaki, a middle-aged Basque separatist who teaches him the ways of his revolution. Along with the young Mexican Joel and Driss, a Moroccan about to be deported, Xabi dramatically escapes from prison and hitches a ride to Madrid. On the hunt for his revolutionary former lover, Xabi picks up a trick at a mall, steals his and then breaks into the empty apartment the two shared. Xabi sets up a small bomb factory in the apartment, where he plans a terrorist act as a way to attract his teacher and push forward the cause of the Basque nation. Meanwhile, the other two boys meet girls, who figure out what's going on and call the cops. With plenty of hot Spanish eye candy and a rapidly moving tale, Clandestinos is one of the most enjoyable films we've seen this year. (Spanish with English subtitles)

By: Amos Lassen

"Clandestinos!"

A Moving Search for Acceptance

Amos Lassen

"Clandestinos" from TLA Releasing is about young men in pursuit of acceptance as they chase their dreams. Joel is looking for a girlfriend; he wants a nice girl who likes bad boys, Driss is a Moroccan who is avoiding deportation and Xabi is a male hustler and aspiring terrorist. The three are incarcerated in a Spanish juvenile prison. They manage to break out and become involved in the Basque separatist movement. Politics and gay love come together in this melodrama and as we go inside the heads of the three boys, we end up with a pleasurable viewing experience.
Xabi knows little more than the criminal lifestyle. He has been in reform schools and prisons since he was a child and once when he was out and on the streets, he met and fell in love with
Inaki, a Basque separatist who instructs him about the nature of revolution. Xabi, hungry for love and acceptance, listened and hung onto every word. When the boys escape from prison, they find their way to Madrid in search of Xabi's lover. Xabi meets a "john", steals his and then breaks into the apartment that he and his lover shared. He sets up a small factory to build bombs and go head on into the fight for separatism for the nation of Basques. In this way he can fulfill his terrorist aspirations and perhaps win his lover back. Inaki, however, is always one step away and out of contact and Xabi is convinced that the man is testing him to do something big to prove his love for him and his loyalty for the Basque cause. There is a glitch in the plan however. Driss and
Joel meet girls and settle down somewhat. They realize what is going on with Xabi and call the police.
The film provides some wonderful eye candy (the shower scene in the prison, for example) but more than anything else it tells us about the desire for acceptance and what might be done to achieve it. The cast is excellent and Israel Rodriguez as Xabi is a special treat. This is not your regular film fare but it is one of the best movies I have seen in a long time because it deals with what so many of us yearn for. These guys just chose alternative and, for Xabi, dangerous ways to find it.