{"id":7038,"date":"2019-08-14T08:27:29","date_gmt":"2019-08-14T06:27:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.queerlion.it\/?p=7038"},"modified":"2019-08-16T08:31:07","modified_gmt":"2019-08-16T06:31:07","slug":"usa-variety-outsider-acquires-venice-queer-lion-winner-jose-exclusive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.queerlion.it\/en\/usa-variety-outsider-acquires-venice-queer-lion-winner-jose-exclusive\/","title":{"rendered":"Usa, Variety: Outsider Acquires Venice Queer Lion Winner \u2018Jose\u2019 (EXCLUSIVE)"},"content":{"rendered":"

MADRID \u2014 Venice 2018 Queer Lion winner \u201cJos\u00e9,\u201d<\/strong> a movie which went on to play 50 festivals in 35 countries, has been acquired for North American distribution and international sales by Paul Hudson\u2019s Outsider Pictures.<\/p>\n

Strand Releasing will handle digital distribution. \u201cJos\u00e9\u201d was acquired from its production house YQstudio.<\/p>\n

World premiering in Venice Days, \u201cJose,\u201d a Guatemala-set gay love story which is directed by the U.S.-based Li Cheng, turns on Jos\u00e9, a 19-year-old working class Guatemalan who lives in the humblest of circumstances with his clinging mother, makes ends meet, falls head over heels in love with Luis, a construction worker.<\/p>\n

Working a neorealist tradition \u2013 non-pro actors, detailed description of diurnal reality, a contained narrative of larger social resonance \u2013 \u201cJos\u00e9\u201d has won praise for what Hudson called \u201ca gripping, layered and beautifully honest story\u201d and a \u201cnuanced and vivid look at being gay in Central America.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJos\u00e9\u201d is proving broader based in its audience appeal, attracting social-activists, film and art students and professors, and cinephile groups, in addition to the LGBTQ+ community, Hudson added, calling it \u201cone of the most mature and cinematic second films I\u2019ve seen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is one of the most poetic but also honest depictions of a young gay man\u2019s coming-of-age, and in a Central American context, that I\u2019ve seen.\u201d Robert Rosenberg, co-director of \u201cBefore Stonewall,\u201d who is handling marketing and distribution of the film for Outsider.<\/p>\n

In an exclusive new trailer made available to Variety before Outsider debuts \u201cJos\u00e9\u201d on social media, Jos\u00e9 (Enrique Salanic) is seen trying to direct cars to a cheap eatery, his job; looking warily about him as he walks across a footbridge, and listening to a preacher on the bus he takes, prickling that \u201cJesus loves the sinner but not the sin,\u201d accumulating details of Jos\u00e9\u2019s low-income existence and violence-strewn conservative environment. In one of the film\u2019s high points. Jos\u00e9 and lover Luis (Manolo Herrera) ride out on a motorbike to the countryside, make love in a bamboo field. His mother (Ana Cecilia Mota), who is aware Jos\u00e9 likes boys, prays to the Lord for his forgiveness.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe made the film in Latin America due to the realities of extreme violence and poverty, and to highlight young people\u2019s struggle for love and dignity,\u201d said George Roberson, producer and co-writer with Li Cheng.<\/p>\n

In addition to Venice, \u201cJos\u00e9\u201d won best film at the Boston LGBT Film Festival, among others; and made the official selection cut Miami Film Festival, Santa Barbara Intl. Film Festival, El Festival Internacional del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano in Havana;, Outfest Los Angeles and Hong Kong Intl. Film Festival. It was also featured by Amnesty International.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re delighted that the Jos\u00e9 story is resonating in heart and minds around the world, and is now coming soon to U.S. audiences,\u201d said Li Cheng and Roberson in a statement.<\/p>\n

Variety<\/a> by John Hopewell<\/p>\n