Jump to the good stuff: The Story | Some Thoughts | The Final Verdict
The Story:
The Prince is a Chilean drama about love, loyalty, and identity in prison. It’s set in the 1970s and is based on the novel of the same name by Mario Cruz.
After Jaime (Juan Carlos Maldonado) brutally murders a man in a busy club, he’s arrested and locked in prison, where he shares a cell with three other men. The leader of the cell, an older man known as The Stallion (Alfredo Castro), takes him under his wing and calls him The Prince.
Although Jaimie gets involved with The Stallion out of necessity, the two form an emotional bond. And as the story of Jaime’s life in prison unfolds, so does the truth about the man he killed.
Some Thoughts:
The Prince is so clearly set in the 1970s visually that there’s very little reason to be told when the story takes place. On top of that, it’s masterfully put together. The costumes, cinematography, script, and acting are all well done. The film feels like the work of a well-seasoned director, but in fact this is Sebastián Muñoz’s first film. I’m interested to see what he does next.
The only issue I have with the film is that it takes a while to understand Jaime, mostly because he isn’t comfortable with himself. He often seems detached from his surroundings and afraid of the world, which does give credibility to the final outcome. However, because of Jaime’s detached nature, the movie sometimes lacks some of the emotional punch one would expect. You will feel for the characters, just not as deeply as some would like.
The story is well paced, with never a dull moment. And while the events in the prison make up the central story, the mystery as to why Jaime killed a man, and who it is, gives the film a sense of mystery.
The Final Verdict:
The Prince is a well-made piece of gay cinema. While it lacks the dramatic punch some would expect, it still has a powerful conclusion.