A un dios desconocido (1977)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Jaime Chávarri

Writers:

Jaime Chávarri (written by)
Elías Querejeta (writer)

Release Date:

July 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Homosexual | Gay Latino | Closeted Homosexual | Poetry | Bisexual

Awards:

7 wins

Cast

Héctor Alterio	...	José
Jose Joaquin Boza
Xabier Elorriaga
Margerita Mas
Mirta Miller
Ángela Molina
María Rosa Salgado
Yelena Samarina
Mercedes Sampietro
Rosa Valenty

Also Known As:

To an Unknown God (International: English title) (informal literal title)

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:18

A rewarding film of nuance of quiet revelation

Its been a while since I saw this film but its stayed with me both visually and emotionally. To An Unknown God is a film about an aging man coming to terms with his (homo)sexuality and mortality. Its a film notable in key part for the lived-in, tough acting of Hector Alterio whose characterisation enhances the loneliness and isolation of a character yearning to escape his limitations while equally determined to face unashamedly the truth of his life and its finality. Its an unromantic film but one which aches with a coming-to-terms approach and which nonetheless offers moments of hard-fought care and affection. His relationship with a younger man here is tough but necessarily so - here is an older man who has spent his life not-being himself faced with the ultimate force of being alive in facing its approaching - though unknown - closure. As with all performance pieces, this is a film of nuance and quiet revelation which is ultimately rewarding.