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 ... Read allA 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.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.
- Awards
- 2 wins
- Drunk Man
- (as Bob Pitchlynn)
- Featured Wino
- (as Bad George Connor)
- Director
- Writers
- Walt Curtis(from the story by)
- Gus Van Sant(screenplay)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaFirst film directed by Gus Van Sant.
- Quotes
Walt Curtis: [voice-over narration] Maybe when they're making love they can think about Roberto having fucked me. Roberto's cock fucks Johnny, fucked me. That's about as close to Johnny as I'll ever get, unless I had the money. Poor boys never win. Who fucks whom. Mala noche. Every street Mexican on sixth will think he can stick it in me, well they're wrong. But they never were too smart to begin with or they wouldn't be here.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema (2006)
Mala Noche focuses on convenience store worker Walt's and his infatuation with a young immigrant Jonny who is fresh off riding the rails from Mexico with his friend Pepper. From the film's first scene its unabashed open "gayness" lets the viewer know what they are in for. Van Sant makes no attempt to justify his films openly gay stance instead he embraces it and explores the beauty and darkness that accompany it. Walt and Johnny coexist solely based on their parasitic relationship. Walt gushes romanticized convictions for a boy he knows little about, such as "I want to drink this Mexican boy" or "I have to show him that I'm gay for him." While Johnny uses Walt for a house to crash and the occasional joy ride in his car. At the same time both are uncomfortable with their personal situation but can't help to hold on to what they have left.
John Campbell's bleak camera work adds a lot to the look of the seedy underbelly of Portland almost as if it could have been shot as a documentary. Mala Noche is one the few films that benefits from working on such a small budget. It gives the viewer a sense that Van Sant was truly in touch on a deeper level with his subjects than just an "actor/director" level. Ultimately Mala Noche is a profound representation of America's emerging "gay" cinema and an important document of Portland in the mid 1980's. Gus Van Sant would go onto make stronger films but this fascinating debut will show he has shown a strong passion for his films and his subjects right from the beginning.
- BandofInsiders
- Oct 29, 2008
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Languages
- Also known as
- Bad Night
- Filming locations
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $25,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $25,386
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $3,833
- Jun 3, 2007
- Gross worldwide
- $62,743
- Runtime1 hour 18 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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