Jump to the good stuff: The Story | Some Thoughts | The Final Verdict
The Story:
José is about a Guatemalan man who must choose between leaving his mother or being with the man he loves.
José (Enrique Salanic) is a young man living with his mother, who is dependent upon him (Ana Cecelia Mota). He divides his time between working at a small restaurant and Luis (Manolo Herrera), who he spends intimate moments with alone. Although Luis would like to move away with him and make a life together, José is apprehensive about leaving his devoutly religious mother, who suspects that he’s gay.
Afraid that her son will leave her alone and live a life of sin, José ‘s mother constantly reminds him how much she depends on him. And soon José must choose between his mother and Luis.
Some Thoughts:
José is a simple and realistic approach to storytelling. The setting is a poor section of Guatemala where the characters feel trapped and some long for escape.
Li Cheng’s direction mixed with Paolo Giron’s camerawork give the film a mood and a sense of who José is. When José is alone, the camera often catches him at a distance, a lone person in an empty space. The interior scenes where José and Luis are getting ready to part are dark and claustrophobic. This is in stark contrast to the scenes where they’re together, opening up to each other and enjoying each other’s company. It’s so artfully done that the emotions come through loud and clear.
José’s mother is shown in a similar way. Her concern for her son can’t be ignored, even if her fear of his standing with God is misguided. She’s seen doting over José, making sure he eats and has clean clothes. She worries when he’s not close and fears losing him, which has a negative effect on him.
All of the characters are people trying to get by on nothing and looking for happiness. And since none of them are out to cause harm, nobody is good or bad. This film isn’t about pointing fingers, its purpose is to show its subject in an honest light. And for that, it truly succeeds.
The Final Verdict:
José is an artsy film about what it’s like to be a gay man living in poverty in Guatemala. The sense of despair, feeling trapped, and the fear of abandoning the people who need you ring true.