Winner of the Queer Lion at the 2018 Venice Film Festival, José is a quiet and beautifully told story of first love unfolding against the harsh reality of life in contemporary Guatemala
This sensitive and engrossing film centres on José, a young man working hard to support himself and his mother, who sets off each morning at the crack of dawn to sell her wares at market. In the midst of life in a chaotic city, José finds temporary solace through fleeting moments arranged via a hookup app.
When Luis enters his life, José is pushed into painful self-reflection as he struggles with first love and his relationship with his religious mother. Even while he searches for fulfilment, the burden of duty weighs heavily on his shoulders.
José is an authentic, moving, and altogether immersive cinema experience, one that places you directly on the streets José treads, with an unforgettable bittersweet quality that lingers long after the film ends.
Australian Premiere
Winner 2018 Venice Film Festival Queer Lion
“Jose and Luis’ relaxed, hopeful connection beautifully catches how neither imagined they could find a relationship like this. Cinematographer Paolo Giron skilfully frames the characters within dramatic wide shots of the city and the gorgeous countryside in contrast to much grittier interiors” – Shadows on the Wall
José
Sun Feb 24 6:00 PM
Event Cinemas George St
