The new film by Irish director John Butler, whose Handsome Devil screened at Mastercard OFF CAMERA two years ago, is the story of an unlikely friendship between two very different men. Sean (played by Matt Bomer) is a wealthy white gay man who lives in a luxurious house in a beautiful Los Angeles neighbourhood. One day, during his regular weather report at a local TV station, he has a mental breakdown and is put on leave. Unable to cope with painful feelings of loss and relentless ennui, he hires a Mexican labourer, Ernesto (Alejandro Patiño), a father of five who barely speaks English, to finish redecorating his terrace. But Sean is desperate for companionship, and he starts to confide in his worker and take him on day trips to picturesque parts of town. The director shows two very different types of masculinity here: a white, homosexual and privileged version is juxtaposed with a Latino, working-class one. The fascinating bond that’s forged between the two characters brings to light a wide array of prejudices and cultural stereotypes, but also suggests that the kind of empathy and open-mindedness that should be key components of male identity are still a rarity in the modern world.
John Butler
John Butler
Cathal Watters
John McPhillips
Matt Bomer, Alejandro Patiño, Elena Campbell-Martinez, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Michael Shepperd
Ireland