Esteros [DVD]

I am not much bothered by whether it fits the category of a love story, a gay film or more broadly just a story about life. What matters is that it’s superbly done and the viewer is drawn in. Much of the filming - including what is heard - is extremely well judged and executed, in beautiful natural settings. The immediacy and spontaneity of the boys when they are young contrasts aptly and believably with their rather more reflective adult selves, and the eternal truth - that life is more complicated when you are an adult - is made evident. Not profound, but true to life and natural. I particularly liked the sequence where the pair - as men - replay (as it were) the episode of splashing around in the water that we had seen occur when they were boys, and then lie still in the water gazing up, as before. It’s the same but not the same. They are the same people they were, but different. Life has moved on, but they seem to be getting the rare chance to revive something precious.It doesn’t affect my assessment of the film, but, yes, as others have said: the subtitles are often unreadable, which seems a careless and unnecessary mistake to make when preparing the DVD release.

This is the story of Matias and Geronimo who were childhood friends and summered together at the farm of Jeronimo’s down in the estuaries hence the title. Then Matias’s father takes a job in Brazil just as the two boys were beginning to understand their sexual desires and identities.Then the story moves up to the present day when after many years of separation they meet again but Matias now has a girlfriend and his life seems to have been mapped out for him. The problem is that the feelings both have long held resurface once they are reunited and there will be ructions for all.Now this is not a ground breaking film both in terms of plot or presentation. It is a small story and has been called clichéd by some. However, it does have a certain charm and the actors are all very good, the bedroom antics are tasteful too and it all hangs together well. It is not great drama or aiming to advance the cause of gay lib but it is just a simple story about life, love and choices and as such I found it to be well worth a watch.

I love,love this movie. Its a beautiful love story. Really tender and passionate. Beautifully shot,well acted . Definitely recommend. And Esteban Masturini who plays Jeronimo is absolutely gorgeous.

Two Boys grown up and the flashback they were kids. They were kindred friends . Grown men they one of them is gay and one think he's straight . Brilliant film, it's a happy ending !

A lovely film about a man who gradually realises what his real feelings are. The subtitles are in white, which makes some of them difficult to read. The lovemaking, after the initial kisses, is not very clear & often too dark to see clearly.

Really enjoyed this film for what it was. Moving between the past & present & with the beautiful estuaries as a backdrop I thought it worked well.Having seen pictures of the the actor Ignacio I think he would ha d looked better with stubble as he did t look as much like his younger self in the film.

With a big horizontal black bar available they had to put white subtitles on an often bright background making subtitles frequently unreadable.

Truly moving film. Wonderful acting, and heartwarming story, set in 'the Land of Shining Water'. Highly recommended