Director:
Lucio CastroFew films have captured the dual fleeting and enduring nature of intimate connection as poignantly as “End of the Century.” The film, an elegant three-hander that mostly revolves around two men who meet-cute on a Barcelona balcony, leaves a lingering impression on the heart. Like a great poem, “End of the Century” gives voice to a seemingly indescribable feeling, one anyone who’s ever fallen in love will recognize from deep in their soul — as if bumping into an old friend you forgot how much you liked. Written and directed by Argentinian filmmaker Lucio Castro in his feature debut, “End of the Century” is the natural descendant of lush romances like “Weekend” and “Call Me By Your Name,” and will certainly endure as one of the most evocative gay films of the decade.
Though no one speaks for the first 12 minutes of the film, the engaging opening relies solely on the capable and strong shoulders of Ocho (Juan Barberini), an Argentinian visiting Barcelona by way of New York. Giving the unmistakable impression of a visitor absorbing his surroundings with a traveler’s fresh eyes, he wanders through the simple-yet-lovely establishing city shots as he cycles through common activities of the solo traveler: Eating alone, observing locals, reading, swimming, showering, jerking off. From the balcony of his Airbnb, he spots a cute guy from the beach in a KISS shirt, and calls out the film’s first line: “Kiss!”
