Mala noche (1986)

	Also Known As: -
	Year of first release: 1986
	Director: Gus van Sant
	Actors: Tim Streeter, Doug Cooeyate, Ray Monge
	Country: USA
	Genre: Drama
	Conditions of visioning: 07.01.2016, DVD, English version with English subtitles
Synopsis: Walt (Streeter) is a lonely store owner in Portland who tries to get lustful encounters with male customers. Johnny (Cooeyate), a handsome, 18-year-old Mexican ducks immigration officials and hangs around playing video games. When Walt sets eyes on Johnny, he's passionately attracted.
Review: The story is a bit simple and dumb for today but at that time when homosexuality was seen as source of AIDS and where Latin American migration was illegal and taboo, this movie was revolutionary. It depicts the street daily life in Portland. Ok, its public was also quite small even if not restricted to the gay&lesbian community.  The absurd passion of the poor Walt for Johnny is impossible to understand but its course shows the unhappy love in a romantic way.  From the cinematographic point of view the movie gives already some insights in Gus van Sant approach, close-ups on faces and bodies, people hanging around, and the most important, controversial topics. It was a nice way to go at the source of one director (Good Will Hunting, Elephant, Milk, Promised land), even if the movie is just fine.
Rating: 4 /10