To an Unknown God

Its been a while since I saw this film but its stayed with me both visually and emotionally. To An Unknown God is a film about an aging man coming to terms with his (homo)sexuality and mortality. Its a film notable in key part for the lived-in, tough acting of Hector Alterio whose characterisation enhances the loneliness and isolation of a character yearning to escape his limitations while equally determined to face unashamedly the truth of his life and its finality. Its an unromantic film but one which aches with a coming-to-terms approach and which nonetheless offers moments of hard-fought care and affection. His relationship with a younger man here is tough but necessarily so - here is an older man who has spent his life not-being himself faced with the ultimate force of being alive in facing its approaching - though unknown - closure. As with all performance pieces, this is a film of nuance and quiet revelation which is ultimately rewarding.