Gay Celluloid on My Straight Son

›› My Straight Son - Azul y No Tan Rosa - aka: Blue and Not So Pink ‹‹

a film by Miguel Ferrari.

2012 | 114 mins | Venezuela.

the put to the test relationship between a gay father and his straight son.

Dave says:

In a film that's something of a Venezuelan cinematic miracle, writer and director Miguel Ferrari weaves a melodramatic story that's as joyous, as it is emotionally poignant.

And it all revolves around Diego (Guillermo García); a successful Venezuelan fashion photographer who lives a glamorous life of excess with his partner Fabrizio (Sócrates Serrano). Yet their world of hedonistic delight is set to come to an abrupt end, when a sudden tragedy leaves Fabrizio in a coma. Finding his life turned upside down, the least thing that Diego needs at this time is for an unexpected visit from his estranged son Armando (Ignacio Montes); namely a young man who's clearly ill-at-ease with his father's sexuality and lifestyle. Yet in trying to re-connect with his son, could Armando in turn discover the beauty of the sexual rainbow and come to accept his father and his sexually diverse group of friends for who they are?

In a feature that vividly depicts the put to the test relationship between a gay father and his straight son, Ferrari juxtaposes many a touching moment with a scene of such unprovoked homophobic violence that it's as sickening, as it's central to the plot, even if the sequence itself leaves more forensic potholes in its wake than the state of British roads, making you seriously question if the Venezuelan authorities have even heard of DNA profiling, or simply cannot be bothered when it comes to crimes of hate. Then again, such is reflective of a country still in dire need of the gay rights that so many of us take for granted, as painfully exemplified when Diego discovers that he has no legal rights to see his hospitalized boyfriend.

Such is however but one of the many, perhaps too many issues raised in this engaging work, as homophobia, at times all too close to home, domestic violence, negative body image and a host of other concerns await their turn to take to the narrative spotlight, in a film that strikingly contrasts the ugly face of prejudice, with the outstretched hand of human compassion, and of a father and son relationship that to say more, would be a spoiler.

High in production values and here cue the fine cinematography of Alexandra Henao, as complimented by the often moving score of Sergio de la Puente, frankly this is a film with a lot going for it, even if some may feel that it could have benefited with the odd nip 'n' tuck here and there, in particular when it comes to a number of the side characters, even if Diego's transgendered best friend Delirio del Río (Hilda Abrahamz) ends up almost stealing the show. And whilst there's nothing remotely sexual on view, albeit from the buffed-to-perfection torso of an erotic dancing cutie, as ever it's the story that counts, one that's clearly been delivered from the heart, with Ferrari having gone out of his way to preach a sermon on sexual acceptance. And that's a message that cannot be said loud enough in countries that to this day hold no recognition of same-sex unions. Say no more.

›› available as part of the TLA Releasing catalogue: 15th September, 2014 / UK.

›› revised: Saturday, 18th December, 2021.

Gay Visibility - overt.
Nudity - from the waist up.
Overall - file under ... 4 stars.

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archive reference #2015020 - revised.

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