Boystown (Chuecatown) (2007) directed by Juan Flahn

[reviews_and_ramblings]

Director: Juan Flahn

Writers:
Dunia Ayaso (writer)
Juan Flahn (writer)
Rafa (comic book)
Félix Sabroso (writer)

Release Date: 6 July 2007 (Spain)
2 November 2007 (San Francisco Latino Film Festival, USA)

Genre: Comedy, Crime

Plot: Murders, steamy bathhouses, and loveably sexy characters set the stage for comedy and melodrama in Spain's "gayborhood."

Evoking the comic insanity of early Pedro Almodóvar, Boystown is a raucous farce about an outlandish murder/mystery plot and the gay couple caught up in the middle of it all. Sinisterly handsome Victor (Pablo Puyol), a real estate agent in Madrid's gentrifying, candy-colored “gayborhood,” hides a wicked little secret – he murders old ladies then flips their renovated flats to upwardly-mobile gays. When bearish working class lovers Rey and Leo inherit the latest victim’s apartment, they move Rey’s acerbic mother in. Now it’s up to an eccentric detective, her sexually confused son (Eduard Soto) and the unwitting couple to uncover the murderous scheme before he strikes again.

"Boystown is a hoot -- quirky Spanish black comedy with heart and a wicked sense of humor!" - EDGE Ft. Lauderdale
"Stylish, unique, funny, and suspenseful!" - Passport Magazine
"Even Pedro Almodovar, the king of Spain as far as cinema is concerned, would giggle at this comedy!" - San Diego Union-Tribune
"The film has a fast pace and an often-wicked sense of humor. The opening titles are clever as well!" - KPBS, NPR San Diego
"Almodóvar-lite! Engaging black comedy that pivots between silly sit-com and a dark thriller." - EDGE New York
"A grinning screwball comedy. Plenty of laughs thanks to the beat-perfect comedic timing of both script and cast!" - Philadelphia City Paper

Awards: 2008 Best International Feature, FilmOut 2008 San Diego
2008 Riley-Metzger Jury Award for Outstanding Performance to Concha Velasco, Fairy Tales International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival

@IMDb
@Amazon: Boystown
@Netflix
@TLA Releasing

 









Cast (in alphabetical order)
Carlos Fuentes ... Rey
Pepón Nieto ... Leo
Pablo Puyol ... Víctor
Edu Soto ... Luis
Montserrat Alcoverro
Ángel Burgos ... Mario
Margarita Calatayud ... Abuela de Lola
Eduardo Casanova
Joan Crosas ... Sr. Pardo
Ana Fibla ... Estheticiene 2
Mariola Fuentes ... Lola
Antonio Municio ... Raul
Bruno Oro
Carmen Pardo ... Vecina
Josele Román
Rosa Maria Sardà ... Mila
Germán Tormo ... Comisario
Concha Velasco ... Antonia
Pedro Veral ... Fran

    
Leo & Rey

    
Victor & Luis 

Comments

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I like the Spanish black comedy, they have for sure the ability to be funny without being stupid. For sure they are not realistic, at least not in all their aspect, but Boystown has a worth more, to show you a very common type of couple, the so called bears, that not always are main characters in a movie. Rey and Leo are handsome but not pretty, I can see their physical appeal; they are nice and funny, but not "flamboyant". They like beer and meat. The crime subplot is funny, but sincerely, what I like most is the love story between these two not so "little" teddy bears.

[lucifuge-5.livejournal.com]

Thank you for this movie review, Elisa! I've always been a fan of gay Spanish movies--a direct result from watching Pedro Almodovar movie as a kid. Unfortunately, not many get to the actual movie theaters. OTOH, a lot of them *do* come out on dvd so, yay!

By the way, have you seen another gay Spanish movie called "Bear cub"? It has to do with a very handsome bear guy who is forced to become his nephew's guardian.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

No, I didn't see it yet, but will look for it, thank you. Elisa (BTW also I like Pedro Almodovar ;-)

[ryan-field.livejournal.com]

I'm going to look for it. Sometimes these are hard to find around here.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Maybe thanks to the release with TLA it will be easier to find. Elisa