Mala Noche (1986)

A story of amour fou. Walt is madly in love/lust with a young illegal Mexican immigrant. However, the object of his unrequited affection doesn't even speak any English and finds Walt really... See full summary »

Director:

Gus Van Sant

Writers:

Walt Curtis (story), Gus Van Sant (screenplay)

Stars:

Tim Streeter, Doug Cooeyate, Ray Monge

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tim Streeter	...	Walt
Doug Cooeyate	...	Johnny
Ray Monge	...	Roberto Pepper
Nyla McCarthy	...	Betty
Sam Downey	...	Hotel Clerk
Robert Lee Pitchlynn	...	Drunk Man (as Bob Pitchlynn)
Eric Pedersen	...	Policeman
Marty Christiansen	...	Bar Friend
George Conner	...	Wino (as Bad George Connor)
Don Chambers	...	Himself
Walt Curtis	...	George
Kenny Presler	...	Street Hustler
Conde Benavides	...	Arcade Amigo
Cristo Stoyos	...	Greek Singer
Matt Cooeyate	...	Boxcar Amigo

Storyline

A story of amour fou. Walt is madly in love/lust with a young illegal Mexican immigrant. However, the object of his unrequited affection doesn't even speak any English and finds Walt really strange and undesirable.

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Plot Keywords:

immigrant | mexican | thief | homosexual | migrant worker | 

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Taglines:

If you fuck with the bull, you get the horn

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

MK2 [fr]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

19 June 1987 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

Bad Night

Filming Locations:

Portland, Oregon, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

78 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

First film directed by Gus Van Sant.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Walt Curtis: [voice-over narration] Working in the store Sunday all day, I want to drink this Mexican boy Johnny Alonzo from L.A. near Riverside. He makes my heart throb - thumpety, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum - when I see him.

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Connections

Referenced in Rescued from the Closet (2001)

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Soundtracks

"Guaguaanco"
Written and Performed by David Storrs

User Reviews

I really loved this movie

I was fortunate enough to see this at the Sydney Film festival. I am a fan of Van Sants, having seen all his stuff and read his fiction- and I've always wondered if I would ever see this curiosity of a film. And what I expected to be nothing more than a real fledgeling of a film, with only a glimmer of the Van Sant that attracts many to his work- was in actuality a stunning, fully sustained episodic and tender Ka-pow! that was wonderfully made and full of all the visual tricks and flair that makes Van Sants movies so idiosyncratic and so ... well him. This was the biggest delight for me about it. I expected, simply because it is so hard to find and that it has no DVD release that it would be a mere trifle of a film. But it is anything but.

I was moved, all the acting was top-notch. The main character was likeably deluded, such a victim of his own desire it was funny and warming at the same time. The Black and White and evident grain in occasional sound inconsistencies actually work for it; it helps draw the detail out of the locale and its people in a manner very reminiscent of Van Sants Idaho and Drugstore Cowboy.

There are moments of confusion, of randomness, of erotica and tragedy. The music is wonderful, every camera angle delicately crafted, but never contrived or pretentious- full of humour and warmth.

What a joy this film was and to me, seriously one of Van Sants best. Maybe its because I'm a gay man and with the exclusion of his Paris Je Teme segment, and elements of My Own Private Idaho, this is his only overtly gay story. And it plays real, with an almost documentary like realism (for example the scenes of language barriers between the the main protagonist and Pepper)- but then again its almost as theatrical as opera, playing it broad and surreal.

I cant praise it highly enough. A real surprise, a delight. I hope it gets seen.