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José

Guatemala/U.S., 85m, DCP

Showtimes & Tickets

Screened January 31–February 13, 2020

A nuanced look at the challenges and joys of gay life in Central America, José follows the 19 year-old titular character (Enrique Salanic) as newfound love brings about passion, pain, and self-reflection. Scraping by working at a restaurant, José lives at home with his mother (Ana Cecilia Mota), who makes ends meet by selling sandwiches at bus stops and is not ready to let go of her youngest—and favorite—child. But when he meets Luis (Manolo Herrera), José is pushed to breakdown his own boundaries and take a leap of faith with this new relationship. Shot in the neorealist cinematic tradition, José is both gripping and disarmingly honest. 

In Spanish with English subtitles.

Winner: Queer Lion, Venice Film Festival

Official selection: Venice Film Festival, BFI Flare: London LGBTQ+ Film Festival

An Outsider Pictures release.

A film by Li Cheng

“Raw and authentic.”

Remezcla

“Delicately depicts the hardship of being gay in a Catholic culture and the pressure for machismo in a crime-ridden country.”

The New York Times

Past Appearances

Fri January 31

Q&A with director Li Cheng moderated by filmmaker Robert Rosenberg (Before Stonewall)

Sat February 1

Q&A with director Li Cheng moderated by Nick McCarthy (NewFest)

Sat February 1

Q&A with director Li Cheng moderated by filmmaker Robert Rosenberg (Before Stonewall)

Sun February 2

Q&A with director Li Cheng moderated by filmmaker Robert Rosenberg (Before Stonewall)

Fri February 7

Q&A with actor Enrique Salanic (via Skype*) moderated by Susan Muska (Edie & Thea: A Very Long Engagement) *Salanic was blocked by US authorities from entering the country to promote the film.