Filmes de Interés Gay

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A Raw and Gifted
Ensemble Is Guided
by the Talent of
Director & Writer
Tadeo Garcia . .
A Voice to Hear . .
. . A Talent to Applaud!

Movie audiences are turning more serious attention to small Independent films for quality and meaning in story and in style and in brave confrontation with issues outside the perimeter of the Hollywood style films.
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An excellent example is this remarkable film by Tadeo Garcia whose first year in film school produced the outline of this little gem of a movie and whose courageous 'first film' gained the respect of screenwriter Roger B. Domain who helped him transfer the skeletal story into a full length film "On The Downlow', all on a budget of $8,000.!
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From the opening scenes we can sense that we are watching a love story, but it is a story of forbidden love: Angel (Michael Cortez) is escaping his Chicago street gang with the help of Isaac (Tony Sancho) and the two warmly human, supportive, sensitive young men flee to the territory of Isaac's low neighborhood where Angel, in order to be with his secret lover Isaac gives up his allegiance to his former gang and pledges to Isaac's gang. The rasty group is led by Reaper (Donato Cruz). Director Garcia reveals to us very gradually that Angel and Isaac are lovers. The union is suddenly shown physically in a surprising and prolonged passionate kiss and lovers embrace in an open night alley, an event which will trigger the force of destiny.

Discovering his gun Isaac's religious mother emotionally pleads with him not to carry the gun, avoid gang alliance and to repent his "ways". By contrast Angel's mother perceptively and lovingly acknowledges and accepts her sons' sexuality if it means his happiness. But life is as it is on the streets of south side Chicago and Angel is accepted into Isaac's gang after first having to undergo the cruel initiation beating that accompanies his joining. Reaper is later informed that Angel is an ex-gang member of the rival gang and Isaac is the one Reaper determines should kill the intruding and offending Angel. Issac desperately tries to arrange for the two lovers to escape Chicago but the inevitable happens and the ending is tragic but with undertones that are subtly captured by director Garcia's eye, mind, camera, and heart: the final confrontation scene ends with our enabled view of evidence that other members of the gang share the same 'on the downlow' as Angel and Isaac.

Michael Cortez and Tony Sancho completely embrace their dichotomous roles with sensitivity and professionalism and effectively animate their respective characters. The entire cast is filled with raw yet gifted talent: Beatriz Jamaica as Angel's mother and Carmen Cenko as Isaac's mother, Donato Cruz as Reaper, Adelina Quinones (a terrific screen presence) as Laura, Felipe Camacho as the Priest, and all the young men who convincingly bring the gang members to life.

Yes, there are evidences of low budget constraints, but the overwhelming success of the story of two young men in love against the backdrop of the hopelessness of gang violence and crime is brilliant evidence that director, writer Tadeo Garcia is a gifted talent to watch.

FILM INFORMATION: 'On The Downlow'
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Web: Additional Cast, Details and Bios at IMDb
Director: Tadeo Garcia
Writers: Roger B. Domian (writer) & Tadeo Garcia (writer)
Cast, Crew, & Credits: Full Cast, Crew & Credits
Genre: Drama
Awards: Numerous US and International awards
Runtime: 90 min
Spoken Language: English
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FILM CLIP: 'On The Downlow'



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