(There’s also an oddly placed final sequence showing a character running down a street - someone we’ve already seen breathe their last.) Though there’s nudity here, the pic avoids the sense of forced “Oops I forgot to wear my briefs again” titillation often common to films aimed at gay niche auds. But “The Last Match” avoids obvious melodrama, at least until the end. The story’s mix of secret love, sex for hire, athletic aspirations and criminal intrigue feels familiar.
#HANDSOME GAY MEN IN HAVANA PRO#
Then, as Rey gets scouted for a possible pro soccer career, providing another reason to keep non-platonic involvement with Yosvani on the downlow, the latter’s home situation suddenly takes a turn for the worse. But Rey’s momentarily flush status, thanks to Juan, leads him into debt with Silvano, who is not to be fooled with. Yosvani’s awareness of this oldest-profession sideline, though discomfiting, also awakens a curiosity that soon turns into an aggressive, even possessive new interest in his pal. For a while, Rey’s prospects rise when he hooks up with Juan (Toni Canto), a handsome visiting Spaniard. It’s taken for granted that any kind of regular employment is a vain hope. Neither Yosvani nor Rey seem half so interested in their ostensible spouses as they are in playing soccer and hanging out together. Rey’s more impoverished circumstances are with wife Liudmila (Jenifer Rodriquez), their baby, and a shrill mother-in-law, Teresa (Mirtha Ibarra), who openly encourages him to sell his body to tourists in order to pay the bills. Yosvani (Milton Garcia) and Rey (Reinier Diaz) play on an amateur slum soccer team.Yosvani lives with his fiancee, Gema (Beatriz Mendez), and her black-marketeer father, Silvano (Luis Alberto Garcia). 24 on Landmark screens in San Francisco and Miami, with modest expansion likely. After a fest run, “Match” will make its U.S. But it’s well crafted and cast to a sum effect that’s consistently engaging, if not quite memorable. Shot in Puerto Rico, this leisurely tale offers no great surprises in the way it considers the relationship between cultural machismo and the closeted life, or in its eventual turn toward tragedy. Life gets complicated for two best friends in Havana when they begin to acknowledge a same-sex attraction between them in “The Last Match,” a solid drama from director/co-scenarist Antonio Hens (“Clandestinos”). Here's a great review from Variety: Although it offers no great surprises, this leisurely tale of two best friends who develop a mutual attraction is a well-crafted, engaging effort.
Only disappointment is that the movie, set in Havana, is actually shot in Puerto Rico, though the director does a great job at convincing us that it is Cuba. I really love this movie! Dicks of both cute lead actors, though not in an exploitative manner.