Rotting in the Sun directed by Sebastián Silva (2023)

Sunday, November 26, 2023

As of three days ago, I had never heard of Sebastiãn Silva, nor the star of his film Rotting in the Sun, Jordan Firstman, but now I’m a fan of Silva’s work and admire Firstman. The day before watching Rotting in the Sun, I saw his previous film Crystal Fairy & The Magical Cactus (2013), and was knocked out by that film as well. Silva has a knack for focusing on a social group, pulling out all the issues within that community, and making it funny. And when things get bad in both films, the film becomes even more hysterical.

The location is in Mexico, one I presume in Mexico City and the other taking place in a nude gay beach. Cock-a-doo galore is one of the hysterical high points in this film. But Silva writes a grand narrative, and this story has surprising twists. At times (both films) seem to be a documentary, but that is a technique to lure you into its world, and it worked on me. The sex scenes in the film are always non-erotic and almost Buster Keaton-like in their mechanic imagery of bodies upon bodies and producing energy. As the actor, Silva walks among the bodies as a ghost-walker, trying to obtain his senses. Firstman is the guide to this gay world and is a charming host/guest. Without a doubt, Rotting in the Sun - and remember, I don’t see many new movies, is my favorite film released this year.

One of the reasons why I love this film is that it covers a lot of ground. It deals with a character trying to come to terms as an artist and exploring another route, primarily out of insecurity. The sexuality that is shown in the film is open and seems natural, and whatever one’s preference, it’s an idealized landscape of pleasure. Yet, there are issues of class and economic differences. I have to be careful not to expose certain aspects of Rotting in the Sun because the pleasure within it is for one to see it without any knowledge of the plot. There is also absurdity, but the way Silva places incidents and characters is just as organic as everything about this film. Also, the contrast between Silva and Firstman’s characters is fun and reminds me of classic Howard Hawks films, such as Bringing Up Baby, with Silva in the Cary Grant role and Firstman as a male version of Katharine Hepburn.

I want to bring attention to the actor Catalina Saavedra, who plays the housekeeper in the film. She is remarkable. She handles tragedy and humor equally, and as her character twists and turns throughout Rotting in the Sun, it’s an amazing performance. If there is any justice in the world, she should obtain every acting award in the Universe.

One can view Rotting in the Sun on MUBI if you are a subscriber.