Jump to the good stuff: The Story | Some Thoughts | The Final Verdict
The Story:
The Blonde One is a romantic drama filled with sexual tension, longing, and mood.
After his roommate moves out, Juan (Alfonso Barón) rents a room in his apartment to a co-worker, Gabriel (Gaston Re). And once Gabriel moves in, there’s immediate chemistry between them, with long looks and awkward silences.
When Juan has a woman over for sex, he walks in front of Gabriel’s open doorway naked. He pauses in front of the door to light a cigarette, then goes back inside. Gabriel calls out that he’s home, and Juan pulls on a pair of pants, then steps into Gabriel’s room and doesn’t zip his pants until he’s standing in Gabriel’s room. Juan mentions that he and the girl are going to eat something and asks if Gabriel would like to join them, which he does.
What follows is a romance built on seduction and longing.
Some Thoughts:
Barón and Re have a chemistry that heats up the screen and gives credibility to this slow burn romance. While Juan is most likely bisexual, Gabriel’s sexuality is unknown for the majority of the film. Also, there isn’t much we know about either Juan or Gabriel. Both men work together in a wood shop, but it’s not clear what they do. Juan has an ex-girlfriend who often visits for sex. Gabriel has a child who is living temporarily with his parents, and he’s seeing a woman who he seems to be only passively interested in.
Of the two men, Juan is the one who puts himself out to Gabriel. Juan often lingers close to Gabriel, looks at him longingly, and invites him to go for a beer. And because the acting and directing are so damn good, every scene works. The problem is, there are too many of these lingering, tension filled moments. After a while they begin to feel slightly tedious.
Much like the previous film I reviewed by director Marco Berger, Hawaii, The Blonde One is beautiful. Every scene feels natural, and the cinematography pulls you in. Although there is a good amount of sex, it never feels gratuitous.
The slow pacing and minimal dialog make The Blonde One feel a bit long in the tooth. Although the situation and characters feel real, we don’t know enough about them to give the story substance. Did Juan suspect Gabriel might be gay? Does Juan have a history of seducing men? And while it’s obvious that Gabriel is falling in love with Juan, it’s not clear if his feelings are returned.
The Final Verdict:
The Blonde One is a sensual film that spends so much time on mood and the buildup that it becomes a bit dull. And although the ending is satisfying, I’m not sure it justifies the drab moments.
