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It feels like Gay Cowboy month even for us that are nowhere the Wild West. First Orville Peck, who positions himself as the Banksy of queer music and looks like a fringed Lone Ranger, teamed up with Willie Nelson to make his latest record. Their song “Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other” is a touching song that celebrates that behind their tough rugged exterior there is sweetheart of a man.
Now Netflix has just released Pedro Almodovar‘s STRANGE WAY OF LIFE a 31 min film that is one of the gentlest tender queer love stories we have seen for a long time. This is his ‘Brokeback Mountain’ and its the tale of Silva (Pedro Pascal) who turns up in a small western town allegedly to find a doctor to sort out his bad back, but in reality it is to see his old friend/lover Sheriff Jake (Ethan Hawke).
After reconnecting in bed, Silva speaks up as he would love to have a romantic relationship with the Lawman, the Sheriff however is totally fixated on searching for the man who murdered his brother. The twist of the story is the alleged killer is none other than Silva’s son.
Pascal and Hawke have the most perfect chemistry together and both actors imbue their performances with such authenticity and do such great justice to Almodovar’s script. Although the story was well rounded and complete I still couldn’t stop thinking about how it would have played out as a full length feature.
I would be at fault if I didnt mention the opening scenes when Almodóvar keeps his camera fixated on a handsome troubadour (Manu Ríos) singing a melancholy ballad of love. Nothing less than stunning !
Labels: 2024, Ethan Hawke, Netflix, Orville Peck, Pedro Almodovar, Pedro Pascal, queer cowboys, Strange Way of Life
