Franco Heiler

Gabriel has just moved in with Juan. Shy and reserved, Gabo resists Juan’s wandering hands and intense gaze. With a parade of beauties filing out of Juan’s bedroom, his machismo seems firmly entrenched. Yet, the attraction between the two men is undeniable. What begins as a sexual arrangement born of proximity soon evolves into a captivating, tender, and intimate relationship - one that is as sweet as it is heartbreaking.

The carnival is coming soon. We witness the ritual of “cleaning the meat” performed by the “gauchos” who unfold their knives. The bucolic landscape mixes with the city streets. Slowly, everything fills with colour, feathers and semi-naked men. Face masks begin to cover the faces and alcohol disinhibit the bodies.

Berger approaches Carnival with painterly precision and vitality, yet the focus is not on the parade itself but on the preparations - the anticipation, the hours leading up to the event where bodies let loose and transform. The film turns the eve into a source of mystery and visual delight.