Strong Ones, The

By: PaulW

By: gayforplay

This film tells the story of a small-town love affair of two Chilean men, one a local fisherman, and the other a graduate student who is in town briefly to visit family.
The film is skillfully crafted, creating a clear sense of location and history. It is a pleasure to watch the two protagonists as they fall head first into a rather steamy relationship.
We witness the full gamut of their interactions, woven into a rich tapestry of emotions -- flirtation, playfulness, self-assuredness, passion -- all against the backdrop of the Chilean seacoast.
Will their prior obligations and other obstacles be so great that it drives these two apart? Or will their love find a way to overcome it all?
This is without a doubt one of the strongest, most effective gay films to come around in a long, long time.

By: Amos Lassen

"THE STRONG ONES" (Los Fuertes)

A Love Story

Amos Lassen

Omar Zúñiga Hidalgo's first feature film "Los Fuertes (The Strong Ones)" is a sexy meditation on love and clashing cultural classes. Set in a remote oceanic town in southern Chile. Lucas (Samuel González), an architecture student, is visiting his sister when he meets and falls for Antonio (Antonio Altamirano), a local fisherman who also performs in Chilean war reenactments. The chemistry is erotic and hot in this very sexy and poetic film that examines lust, love, and identity. As the romance grows between them, their strength, their independence and their adulthood become solid. We see their resilience through their emotional connection and how they face life.

Lucas and Antonio are seen as normal, banal and simple and even though they find a safe space, we still feel the homophobia they have to deal with- they have to struggle with the community. The location, the river region, gives it a plus that creates a unique atmosphere. The sea is a great connector and guide in this story, both in the images and sound. In most of the scenes it is present. The constant confrontation of the characters, is accompanied by the collision of waves.

When, in one scene, they have sex, it is beautifully photographed and sincere. In their intimacy they enjoy themselves and each other and it is beautiful to watch. I was immediately pulled into the story. The two male leads are electric in their performances and convincing. The cinematography is totally engrossing and takes us to a world few get to experience.

Scenes of the reenactment of Chilean history take place at various times during the film and represent a sort of impregnability to the other story of the erotic love affair between the two men.

The love affair is deep and swift, happening in the space of a few days but it still causes changes in the local community that influence work and other relationships. Along the way, a family relationship is mended, a childhood home is revisited, a business decision is taken, a former lover takes revenge, all a result of the affair between Lucas and Antonio.