La Leon

By: Scott Cranin
In-House Review - Jul 16 2008

Surrounded by water flowing in every direction through the lush jungle, Alvaro (Jorge Román) lives a solitary existence harvesting reeds and fishing. Alvaro is a homosexual. We hesitate to use the term "gay" as there is no subculture here with the local people, the "Isleños." No "gay ghetto," no clubs; just one man in the jungle. The people here earn a living navigating the channels in makeshift boats as they harvest and sell the reeds that grow along the riverbanks. The "Isleños" live a very placid, simple existence, fearing outsiders who might disrupt their peaceful ways. Early on in the film, Alvaro hooks up with a man on a speedboat, but his sexual releases seem few and far between. The only link between this outpost and the outside world is the water-taxi "El León" and its captain, El Turu (Daniel Valenzuela). El Turu is a mean man and a homophobe, whose bigotry is hiding his own sexual identity issues. Their bitter yet interdependent relationship all comes to a head in a dramatic turn of events. By turns contemplative and erotic, La León is a must-see for lovers of gay international cinema. The acting is naturalistic, the story is compelling and the scenery is breathtaking. Take the long ride up the Paraná River for a tale of misdeeds and lust in the spectacular scenery of the jungle. (Spanish with English subtitles)

By: Amos Lassen

The Parana Delta is a system of wetlands in the north of Argentina where loner Alvaro lives. He is an outsider among insiders because he is gay but his sexuality is really not an issue except for El Turu, the water-taxi captain who both taunts him and eyes him. There is a continuous struggle between the two and that's what this film is about.
The people of the area make their small livings by harvesting reeds and they are separated from each other by the water there. They are basically confined and to leave the area, they are dependent on El Turu and he is the most powerful man in the area because he owns El Leon, the water taxis. He wields a great deal of influence and he resents outsiders, especially Alvaro that he marks as an outsider because of his homosexuality.
Alvaro, like the others, is a reed cutter and even though his sexuality is kept hidden, El Turu has his suspicions and these are the roots of his hostility toward the man. It turns out that El Turu's anger is actually with himself because of the feelings he has internalized.
The movie is long and tends to bore sometimes because of director Santiago Otheguy's preference for long close ups and little dialog. The actors use their faces to play their parts and the conflict between the two men is shown without them saying much.
What is beautiful about the film is the landscape which dominates the screen. The film is in a kind of sepia tone so that it does not have the feel of a documentary. What we see is a world that no longer has color.
We do feel the alienation of the characters and the movie is primarily one that feels with masculine images-there are few women in it. This is a powerful movie but it does take patience to see it.

By: just a reviewer

I suppose if one has the sensibilities of an upriver, up-jungle Argentinean, this film might be interesting. But, someone like myself----raised in US culture----will likely not find it so. Primarily a work of pastoral, jungle river scenes and little dialogue, you won't find much in the way of action. And if you're a fan of the gay film genre, you'll find little of "that action" here (and what there is, lighting makes hard to see). Probably you will have to be, or "think" you are, an aesthete if you are going to enjoy this movie (and perhaps playing to that trait explains the reasoning behind the use of all-Black&White photography).

Maybe in Argentina this film might be "ground breaking" (DVD back cover "speak"), but in this country there are many of us it will not speak to. Like many third-world and near third-world produced movies, their directors / writers think they're producing something of real substance and interest. Unfortunately, in almost all cases, outside the boundaries of those locations, that is not the case at all----even though US gay video production companies releasing these films would have you think otherwise.

Providing me nothing new in its glimpses into human behavior, this DVD is a "toss away" for me, but..........if you see enough of yourself in this lead character's demeanor, it may be a "keeper" for you.

By: Bart

Sometimes, some film makers get too artsy for their own good. This is filmed in the dark which makes it stuffy and unappealing. The plot is a "rambler" and one has to try to figure out what the point is. I will trade this one to some unsuspecting person. Definitely not worth the $ or time.