Tu Me Manques (I miss you) directed by Rodrigo “Rigo” Bellott proves to be a beautiful depiction of love and war in Latin American culture. The film was recently acquired by HBO Max for US distribution.
A 2019 drama based on a 2015 Bolivian play of the same name, it tells the story of a father who travels to New York City to confront his dead son’s lover in an attempt to ‘bonded with him after his son’s sudden suicide.
Tu Me Manques (I miss you) was a 2019 Outfest LA Film Festival Grand Jury Prize winner for Outstanding Screenplay in a US Film and won Best Foreign Language Film at the 2020 Palm Springs International Film Festival.
The film tells a beautiful, theatrical tale of truth and perception. The project maintains an illusory perspective by portraying Gabriel before his death and telling their story by meeting Sebastian and using only three different actors in the entirety of the film. Originally portrayed by 20 to 30 actors in the show, the character of Gabriel had to remain faceless from his many performances so that his memory would be more than a single story that more people could relate to. many people.
The main meat and potatoes of the film is held between the dynamic of Sebastain (Gabriel’s ex-lover) and Jorge (Gabriel’s father). Jorge, as I said, travels to New York after his son’s death in search of answers.
The film deals with three different plots: Jorge’s arrival in New York as he tries to bond with his son, Sebastian’s memories of Gabriel and lead to Gabriel’s trip to Miami, from which he never returned, and Sebastian being tried to create a lion based on the events of his lover’s past and trying to show the sorrow that those who live a double life have to face.
Gabriel’s character represents the struggle of those oppressed by social and cultural norms and suffering in silence, which is the case for millions of closeted LGBTQ people in conservative countries.
The film’s use of old school theatrical formatting highlights Bolivian art and culture creating a nuanced presentation of its timeline that manages to stay consistent.
Tu Me Manques (I miss you) puts her audience in a corner, forced to think about our perceptions of ourselves and those in our lives. Ultimately, the film shows the beauty of intimacy, the interpretation of what it means to be a man, and the importance of being open to love in our lives and in our hearts.
The historical and cultural significance of a Latin American film discussing LGBTQ life and representation makes it a must-see, yet this film manages to do more than just tell a story. It makes you feel for the characters on screen and gives them life outside of their actors. Although at times the experimental nature of the film and its forced art detract from the plot, the film still manages to remain one of the best Latin American films of the decade. It’s definitely a must-see for contemporary Latin American films, for sure 8/10.
“Tu Me Manques” (I miss you) is now available on HBO Max.
