Extraña forma de vida

Oh so very gay and well acted. I can absolutely see how this was Pedro Almodóvar seemingly long overdue version of Brokeback Mountain in a way, as referred to by both him and the fact that he wanted to direct Brokeback Mountain to begin with. Sadly I have still not yet watched that movie despite hearing nothing but fantastic things about it, and after watching this one I really don't think that Almodóvar would have had it in him to make something that widely well received.

I think this works best a short film, although at the same time I can't help but feel like it's far too short to really get much from it at all. What is there however is at the very least incredibly decent and has some really major highs, such as the spectacular acting from both leads (Pedro Pascal and Ethan Hawke), and what I consider to be a very good solid score that really elevated what was an otherwise mediocre time.

A story of two men who were lovers at one point 25 years ago in the past, meeting each other again after one of their sons commits a heinous crime in the others town. They immediately hit it off after not seeing each other for over two decades, and the little chemistry that is shown between the two with the very limited time we get with them is palpable and honestly very cute at times to say the least. But that doesn't really matter much when we barely get to spend any time with the two of them, so we barely get to explore their seemingly very detailed and interesting lives - which is what I think drags this down a great deal.

The weird thing is I don't believe this should be any longer either, I don't think it particularly works as well as it could've as a short film but at the same time I don't think even another thirty minutes of this would be all that appealing to me. It's a very conflicting thing as it clearly has some really good parts and is executed well by the actors themselves, but I cannot tell if it's the writing or the directing that makes it all feel just a tad lackluster.

Overall I liked it enough to consider it worth checking out, especially due to the fact it is only at a brisk thirty minute runtime. It's filled with two immensely talented actors being gay as hell and looking good doing it, which is at least enough of a reason for me to watch it. Nothing special if we're being honest, but it could for sure resonate with other people far more than it did with me. I slightly enjoyed what it was going for and I liked the execution of the majority of it, but it didn't really make a lasting impact on me. A perfectly serviceable short film that I think you should check out if you have Netflix as it just dropped on there.

At the start of this short film the lip-synced actor Manu Ríos (who moves middlingly the lips silently in synchronization with the pre-recorded soundtrack) performs a song and actually sung by Brazilian singer Caetano Veloso, the title is inspired by this ballad sung at the beginning. After many years Silva (Pedro Pascal) rides a horse across the desert to visit his friend Sheriff Jake (Ethan Hawke). They celebrate the meeting, but the next morning Jake tells him that reason for his trip is not to go down the memory lane of their friendship. Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal play a sheriff and a cowboy who meet 25 twenty-five years years after having lived a few days full of desire and sensuality. However, the reason for this meeting is not only to relive the past, as Pascal has a secret agenda.

This is the second short film in English (after The Human Voice starred by Tilda Swinton) directed by Pedro Almodovar. This movie is inspired by the Portuguese poem song by Amália Rodrigues called "Strange Way of Life¨or "Estranha forma de vida", released in 1959. A disruptive tribute to the spaghetti Western with overtones of melodrama where Almodóvar explores the sexuality of two cowboys, middle-aged men, who have lived a life far behind their own desires, as director Pedro himself explains. It has a pleasant soundtrack by Alberto Iglesias, ordinary composer of Almodovar films. As well as colorful cinematography by José Luis Alcaine who also worked a lot with Almodóvar. And the Costume Designs are signed by Saint Laurent and Anthony Vaccarello. Being shot on location in Desierto de Tabernas, Almería, Andalucía, Poblado Western 'Sergio Leone', Tabernas, Almería, Andalucía, and Mesa de Ocaña, Toledo, Castilla-La Mancha.

This ¨Strange Way of Life¨ is a strange mix between "Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain" (2005) and Spaghetti Western sub-genre , and only the second English-language feature by Pedro Almodóvar, the first being La voz humana (2020). This was filmed in the Tabernas desert, the place where Sergio Leone set his most legendary Spaghetti Westerns, such as: ¨Fistful of dollars", "For a fistful of dollars more", "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" and "Once upon a time in the West¨. Being a project produced by Pedro Almodovar himself y his brother Agustin Almodovar with their production company El Deseo and the first film financed by Saint Laurent Productions, a production company from the Yves Saint Laurent fashion house and the head designer, Anthony Vaccarello, also served as an associate producer and gowns designer on the film. In 2023 Cannes Film Festival "Strange Way of Life" (2023) was nominated Queer Palm - Short Film.

This was a promotional short by Saint Laurent, and that makes sense. It goes hand-in-hand with Almodovar's heightened, melodramatic style, so the fashionable cowboy cliches didn't mess with the verisimilitude of the story.

Unfortunately, the dialogue suffers from being absurdly expositional, and not in an intentionally comedic way. It's understandable at first, because it's a short, and you want to give it some slack for this, but then there's a flashback scene that goes on for 3 minutes longer than it needs to.

The acting by everyone besides Hawke and Pascal is very mid. Their characters had a really deep and interesting relationship that could have easily sustained a hundred minute flick, but with the time-constraints, that depth can't be explored well enough.

Could have been something genuinely great if this story was given the weight and space to breathe it deserves.

The ending is also rushed and just stops.

I am reviewing because there are so many negative reviews. Thought this was a beautiful glimpse into the universe of some beautifully portrayed characters. Both Ethan and Pedro did a great job. I loved their chemistry. Pedro especially was very moving in his role. This short film packed a heavy emotional punch for me and I would love to see it as a feature film. (as for the negative reviews, if you have to say you're not homophobic in your review, you probably are). As for the complaints about the use of the green jacket. I loved it, loved all the costuming. It made Pedro's character stand out, which I assume was the point.

It's literally a short film. Only half an hour and the ending leaves you perplexed and wondering what is it the director wanted to say or is it just a window into the hidden love and lust of cowboys for each other in times past. The acting leaves alot to be desired and the plot I found to be overly simplistic. There are some scenes of passion especially the younger actors who in flashbacks of both the sheriff and this ex lover share their love and passion for each other in a wine drinking splashing rolling moment in the movie. Plus a very short sequence of the older ones in bed together after they have dinner. This short film reminded me of back mountain and thinking why this one too wasn't made into something on par in depth and sophistication with that. In one word it was disappointing.