31 reviews
Sweet and unproblematic
A nice, positive coming-to-terms film. I have to admit that I didn't find the movie all that engaging. I can't say why exactly because it wasn't boring, per se, and I certainly didn't want the usual stereotypical conflicts that tend to crop up in these kinds of films. I actually appreciate that though the storyline isn't a new one, it wasn't stacked with unnecessary drama and didn't drag out the will they/won't they aspect, though that is in large part due to the fact that the film takes place over a few days with flashbacks to when the characters were younger to fill in the pieces. In essence, the real development takes place when they're young and they pick up where they left off when they reunite as adults.
The scenery is lovely and the actors certainly have chemistry. Jero is especially captivating, both the younger and older actors are excellent. Perhaps that's where the dissonance is for me as I didn't find adult Mati all that interesting. Still, a decent enough film amidst the usual drivel. Definitely not a bad way to spend 90 minutes.
The scenery is lovely and the actors certainly have chemistry. Jero is especially captivating, both the younger and older actors are excellent. Perhaps that's where the dissonance is for me as I didn't find adult Mati all that interesting. Still, a decent enough film amidst the usual drivel. Definitely not a bad way to spend 90 minutes.
Quiet, Relaxed, Unsurprising
- ricardo_edm
- Feb 11, 2018
- Permalink
Not great theater, but well done for what it was
- etiennestories
- Feb 13, 2018
- Permalink
beautiful
I expected to see it from a long, long time. First, for the title. Second, for a special sketch of hope to be real different. And it is it. And, in same measure, it is a beautiful film. Beautiful is a fair term about a film who escapes from the old cliches. A film about the traces of childhood, about love and happiness , about a sort of refuge and powerful friendship. At the first sigh, nothing new. But one of films being, in special way, just delightful. For grace and delicacy and precision of story, for good acting and, no doubts, for estuary. Comfortable can be a good term to define it . For a sort of poetry of small, significant things defining us. So, I love it !
- Kirpianuscus
- Oct 8, 2020
- Permalink
Some Fires Are Not Meant To Burn Out...
Two childhood friends loose each other with time and are reunited by chance. There was a close bond between the two young boys. On their reunion as adults, the love is still there. As they go back to the old homestead where they once played, the now adults know what real love is and the one that moved away as a child is willing to give up a beautiful woman and a financially comfortable job for the love of his life that he had never stopped loving.
Reviewers say that they were separated by their parents who noticed the boys were too close but this is not the case. The father of the boy who moved away, simply accepted a job in Buenos Aires.
This is sweet, not coming of age story, but a story of when one half of a heart is reunited with its counterpart after years of separation.
- tuckered-24959
- Feb 8, 2021
- Permalink
A beautiful film, but with a rushed ending.
- johannes2000-1
- Mar 17, 2022
- Permalink
Argentinean Coming Out film
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.
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.
- t-dooley-69-386916
- Aug 4, 2017
- Permalink
Reunited ten years later
Esteros (2016) is an Argentinian film directed by Papu Curotto. It stars Ignacio Rogers as Matías, who formerly lived in Argentina, but left when his family moved to Brazil. Ten years later, he returns for a visit to Argentina with his Brazilian girlfriend. He meets his boyhood friend Jerónimo (Esteban Masturini), and there's obviously still a bond between them.
Matías and his girlfriend aren't happy. She's beautiful, sophisticated, buoyant, and fun-loving. He's dour and hates noise and crowds. He and Jerónimo are much better matched in temperament.
However, Matías is well educated and successful as a biologist. (Director Curotto suggests that Matías is doing research on GMO plants.) Jerónimo studied filmmaking, but he's drifting along making FX models, and doing makeup for party goers.
The men return to Jerónimo's home, near an estuary. The city is surrounding the region, but Jerónimo's parents want to preserve the area and keep it in its natural state.
In any case, the men have returned to the spot where they had been many times before, except that now they are ten years older.
This is an very good movie. The acting is well done, the plot makes sense, and the estuary truly is beautiful.
We saw this film at the excellent Little Theatre, as part of ImageOut, the wonderful Rochester LGBT film festival. It will work better on the large screen, because of the beautiful scenery of the estuary. However, it will work well enough on a small screen as well.
This is one of 22 movies at ImageOut that had their New York State or East Coast premiere at the Image Out festival. My compliments to the festival Programming Committee.
Matías and his girlfriend aren't happy. She's beautiful, sophisticated, buoyant, and fun-loving. He's dour and hates noise and crowds. He and Jerónimo are much better matched in temperament.
However, Matías is well educated and successful as a biologist. (Director Curotto suggests that Matías is doing research on GMO plants.) Jerónimo studied filmmaking, but he's drifting along making FX models, and doing makeup for party goers.
The men return to Jerónimo's home, near an estuary. The city is surrounding the region, but Jerónimo's parents want to preserve the area and keep it in its natural state.
In any case, the men have returned to the spot where they had been many times before, except that now they are ten years older.
This is an very good movie. The acting is well done, the plot makes sense, and the estuary truly is beautiful.
We saw this film at the excellent Little Theatre, as part of ImageOut, the wonderful Rochester LGBT film festival. It will work better on the large screen, because of the beautiful scenery of the estuary. However, it will work well enough on a small screen as well.
This is one of 22 movies at ImageOut that had their New York State or East Coast premiere at the Image Out festival. My compliments to the festival Programming Committee.
Good Intentions, Unremarkable Results
I liked the idea of this story very much, two young friends being torn apart in their youth only to be surprisingly reunited many years later. Connecting at where and who they are now, and reconnecting through their shared memories. I enjoyed the leisurely pace of the film but the storyline wasn't fortified enough throughout the film, so that I ultimately found it difficult to emotionally engage with the characters and what they were experiencing.
A gentle, moving and emotionally satisfying love story
What's interesting about Esteros is how little surprises there are. The film plays out almost exactly as one would expect, its flashback structure isn't particularly innovative and the conflict isn't particularly tense either. And yet, I am in love with this film.
Esteros plays largely like a fan-fiction - and not in a bad way either. Childhood friends with an intimate friendship, grow apart with time only to reunite years later unexpectedly to rekindle their friendship and something more.
The film rests entirely on the intimate relationship between between Matias and Jero - and for good reason too. The chemistry between the two leads is palpable - there is a sense of age to their relationship dynamic, that when they interact for the first time in years it feels awkward and tepid, as if they were relearning how to be around each other. It's those small details that lend an honesty and a truth to the relationship - so that when they kiss for the first time, the film has been building immensely towards it.
It is Esteros' devotion to the small emotional details that make it so emotionally satisfying. While not groundbreaking by any means, its gentleness and sweetness are infectious, and it's always nice to see a queer-themed film that wants its characters to get the happy ending they deserve.
Esteros plays largely like a fan-fiction - and not in a bad way either. Childhood friends with an intimate friendship, grow apart with time only to reunite years later unexpectedly to rekindle their friendship and something more.
The film rests entirely on the intimate relationship between between Matias and Jero - and for good reason too. The chemistry between the two leads is palpable - there is a sense of age to their relationship dynamic, that when they interact for the first time in years it feels awkward and tepid, as if they were relearning how to be around each other. It's those small details that lend an honesty and a truth to the relationship - so that when they kiss for the first time, the film has been building immensely towards it.
It is Esteros' devotion to the small emotional details that make it so emotionally satisfying. While not groundbreaking by any means, its gentleness and sweetness are infectious, and it's always nice to see a queer-themed film that wants its characters to get the happy ending they deserve.
Sweet love story about childhood friendship
Esteros is a coming-out-terms movie about a childhood friends who attracted to each other.
Matias and Jeronimo are kids who the parents friend with each other. They both are inseparable since then. Eventually they started attracted to each other as kids but unfortunately Matias's family must go to Brazil because of the job and leaving their hometown and Jeronimo.
Many years passed, Matias back to the town but he had girlfriend. Fate coming to rescue, they reunited again not knowing it beforehand and all the feeling to each other resurface.
You will see both of them trying to nostalgia the time and place when they were kids, but you also seeing the struggle from both of them. From Mati who always tries to throw away and forget whatever he felt toward his friend and Jero tries to show a hint to his friend what he felt because he's been patiently waited over the decade.
I love and I think it's sweet how Jero still do and remembering what they always do together as kids. But get frustated when found out Mati always tries to forget and remove Jero whenever he tell his girlfriend about his childhood life. But I know the reason why he doing that though.
The estuaries is beautiful, quite and relaxing. A place like that is needed nowadays. I like it.
Matias and Jeronimo are kids who the parents friend with each other. They both are inseparable since then. Eventually they started attracted to each other as kids but unfortunately Matias's family must go to Brazil because of the job and leaving their hometown and Jeronimo.
Many years passed, Matias back to the town but he had girlfriend. Fate coming to rescue, they reunited again not knowing it beforehand and all the feeling to each other resurface.
You will see both of them trying to nostalgia the time and place when they were kids, but you also seeing the struggle from both of them. From Mati who always tries to throw away and forget whatever he felt toward his friend and Jero tries to show a hint to his friend what he felt because he's been patiently waited over the decade.
I love and I think it's sweet how Jero still do and remembering what they always do together as kids. But get frustated when found out Mati always tries to forget and remove Jero whenever he tell his girlfriend about his childhood life. But I know the reason why he doing that though.
The estuaries is beautiful, quite and relaxing. A place like that is needed nowadays. I like it.
- MystiqueAurors
- Feb 22, 2019
- Permalink
Finally
- Rainbowboys22
- Feb 25, 2017
- Permalink
Cute but really predictable, nothing new.
It's a nice film. Nice acting, likable characters, good photography... The thing is that after the first 10 minutes you just know exactly what's gonna go on for the rest of the film, and it does go on exactly like that. The typical scenes with the girlfriend, with going alone to the farm, the talks, the drinks. Nothing new.
One extra star is for the ending, which broke a little the flat rhythm of the film.
Overall, if you've never seen a coming out film, watch it, it's nice. If you have, you've pretty much seen it already.
One extra star is for the ending, which broke a little the flat rhythm of the film.
Overall, if you've never seen a coming out film, watch it, it's nice. If you have, you've pretty much seen it already.
Dull and cheesy film about coming out of the closet
I've seen this movie at a Gay Film Festival, and it was probably the less attractive of the six movies that I saw there (and the other five were not masterpieces but regular movies, so...).
The Script by Andy Nachon is interesting, but Director Papu Curotto did not achieve much with it. Most of the time, you feel like you are watching a Hallmark Channel TV Movie about "the importance of accepting love no matter what form it takes" -something quite cliché a decade after 'Water Lilies' and tons of similar films, and 25 years after 'Fucking Amal', 'In & Out', 'Emporte-moi', 'The Crying Game', 'Fresa y chocolate', ...). The freshness and realism provided by the Script is lost through the stiff and artificial aesthetic of Directing. The talent of Actors is wasted, amazing landscape is overused like in a kitsch tourism promotional video, the same happens with exposition flashbacks like in a trash romantic movie from the 80's, and the abuse of background songs is just ridiculous.
Work of Cinematographer and children Actors performance stand out.
The Script by Andy Nachon is interesting, but Director Papu Curotto did not achieve much with it. Most of the time, you feel like you are watching a Hallmark Channel TV Movie about "the importance of accepting love no matter what form it takes" -something quite cliché a decade after 'Water Lilies' and tons of similar films, and 25 years after 'Fucking Amal', 'In & Out', 'Emporte-moi', 'The Crying Game', 'Fresa y chocolate', ...). The freshness and realism provided by the Script is lost through the stiff and artificial aesthetic of Directing. The talent of Actors is wasted, amazing landscape is overused like in a kitsch tourism promotional video, the same happens with exposition flashbacks like in a trash romantic movie from the 80's, and the abuse of background songs is just ridiculous.
Work of Cinematographer and children Actors performance stand out.
Happy ending.....low key and sweet.
Not into boy on boy sex, but the flashbacks here served a purpose. They showed how close the two main characters had been during a part of their childhood, before one of them had to move away with his parents. The adult characters were attractive enough and likeable. Matias was the straight appearing one and the one who had wrongly chosen a straight path. But he realizes how wrong he was after he spends a fun weekend with his former pal. Acting was decent. Enjoyed the basic premise. But really....every gay movie has the characters swimming in dirty water. I can't stand swimming in dirty water.
- ohlabtechguy
- Aug 17, 2019
- Permalink
cute. simple.
Showing on netflix. This one MUST have been someone's actual life story. Two friends attracted to each other as kids meet up again as adults. Except that now, one has a girlfriend. Some LONG drawn out scenes, and as others have said, the script moves pretty slowly. But I like the simplicity of the story. Conflict, and we HOPE there will be resolution. Ignacio Rogers is Matias, and Esteban Masturini is Jeronimo. They had both been in the industry about ten years. Directed by Papu Curotto, who had also directed the short upon which this is filmed. Good stuff.
Quiet Power
A deceivingly quiet flim loaded with power hiding under the surface.
From the beauty of the estuaries (for which the fim is named) to the revealing hairstyles of the main characters, it's all there: much deeper than the estuaries themselves. the pace gives you the opportunity to take it all in, if you choose to do so.
From the beauty of the estuaries (for which the fim is named) to the revealing hairstyles of the main characters, it's all there: much deeper than the estuaries themselves. the pace gives you the opportunity to take it all in, if you choose to do so.
- pyramidalapex
- Dec 6, 2018
- Permalink
Beautiful!
- andredejongh
- Jul 1, 2018
- Permalink
Bored!
I couldn't finish the movie. It's just another pretentious movie. No real content, no character development. Script is lousy, direction is slow and lousy.
Don't believe the glowing reviews here. They are pretentious wannabe.
1/10 for the sceneries. Otherwise 0/10
Don't believe the glowing reviews here. They are pretentious wannabe.
1/10 for the sceneries. Otherwise 0/10
- Funasian2005
- Aug 17, 2017
- Permalink
Excellent
If you are looking for a fast paced action filled noisy movie then you won't like this. If, on the other hand, you are looking for a well written love story, well acted and beautifully filmed then you've hit the jackpot with this movie. Argentina seems bent on becoming the biggest maker of high quality gay themed movies, and this is a great example of how wonderful it is when they get it completely right. A must see for anyone interested in gay themed cinema that doesn't make you cringe, even once... and we all know that that's not always the case.
- aharon-izraeli
- Mar 30, 2020
- Permalink
How does this only have 7 stars??
I discovered this film back in 2019 and have been watching it over and over again ever since. Seriously, I've probably watched it over 50 times. To me, this movie puts a mature and unique twist on what could be considered a hallmark cliché. I thought absolutely everything was well done throughout this story from the metaphorical dialogue, to the acting, the pacing, and even the ending! I actually really enjoyed the way the flashback scenes were layed out through the movie as well. It didn't feel like they were impeding any flow or just filler scenes, but very thoughtfully placed. Honestly, it saddens me to see that this movie has only 7 stars because in my opinion its one of the best gay films out there! Sure, it may be on the simpler side of things, but I've watched nearly every queer film there is to watch and through most of the overly dramatic, sad, distasteful garbage, this one shines through like a diamond in the rough. I could not recommend it enough!!
- devilbitez
- Jul 10, 2022
- Permalink
Not overly dramatic but entertaining movie
I've seen other reviews and do agree that this isn't groundbreaking or filled with drama but i guess that's a virtue in itself as well. Personally i'm not always in the mood for a super feel-good movie but i'm also not always up for an emotionally shattering movie and we all know that there are an abundance of those in the queer realm. This is a pretty good in between.
Also I'm always on the lookout for stories that take place in small towns and I think there's some merit to this not only being in a small town but also being in a Latin American small town with some Brazilian influences as well given that the "rural gay" stories might be common in other places but in Latin American they are severely lacking. It brings me joy that government funding/help is being directed to these projects.
The acting I think was great and I also really enjoyed the alternating scenes between the past and the present. It really puts into context how they must be feeling in the present as adults considering the closeness of their relationship as children.
Overall I think it's a simple story but there's a charm to that simplicity and I would definitely recommend.
Also I'm always on the lookout for stories that take place in small towns and I think there's some merit to this not only being in a small town but also being in a Latin American small town with some Brazilian influences as well given that the "rural gay" stories might be common in other places but in Latin American they are severely lacking. It brings me joy that government funding/help is being directed to these projects.
The acting I think was great and I also really enjoyed the alternating scenes between the past and the present. It really puts into context how they must be feeling in the present as adults considering the closeness of their relationship as children.
Overall I think it's a simple story but there's a charm to that simplicity and I would definitely recommend.
- miguelmora-12496
- Mar 27, 2022
- Permalink
Boring AF
When both know it is love between them but one of them takes a long time to come to terms with himself
- mheretoday
- Jul 1, 2017
- Permalink
Quietly and Plainly Realistic
- meaninglessbark
- Oct 21, 2017
- Permalink