Don't Tell Anyone (1998)

Don't listen to the negative reviews

The story-telling is good with flashbacks.The film is both funny and heartbreaking. You smile in a scene and get a soulcrushing revelation in the next.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

A real surprise (in my case) because although this one is my second Peruvian film and the first one was a true flop ("La teta asustada") this one is so good I'm still breathless from the experience. What an excellent movie!!!The script is SO intelligent that not only shows us the inner turmoil of a young man trying to cope with his forbidden homosexuality (apparently a no-no in "good" Peruvian society, specially when you want to be honest about yourself to the world and come open about it) but most of all in the way it shows us the amazing degree of hypocrisy mankind has gone through to arrive at this point of "Don't ask, don't tell", or as the Italian say: "Si fa, ma non si dice" (roughly translated: "It's done, but it's never talked about").I wonder... How many lives --so far-- have been ruined by these policies? Macho men --in society-- that behind a close door can do ANYTHING sexual with another macho man, but once outside from that room they don't even know each other...(the SHEER TERROR of being identified as homosexuals...).A transvestite appears in a very brief scene and his/her figure made me realized that in the world as it is today, these people are real martyrs. They are placed --in the social scale-- at the very bottom (at least this kind of street walkers by night in out of the way public spaces) and yet, come to think about it, THEIR GUTS!!! the incredible guts these people have to face the world AS THEY ARE (This is ME, take it or leave it) and you realize that homosexuality is an inborn thing, not as some preachers go around saying that it is acquired, because (just think for a moment) who wants to CHOOSE as a way of living, to live a life of derision, of insults, of physical blows, of constant humiliation?... nobody as far as I'm concerned. Statistics show the life span of transvestites as 32 years due to the extremely hazardous existence they carry (another strong point to show that nobody would choose to be one if it was possible TO CHOOSE...)How hypocritical have we been forced to be by this kind of societies? and I'm sorry to say that this is happening not only in Perú, but all over the world... How many more generations of martyrs, of repressed men, of poisoned lives before the world accepts that homosexuality is just another way for sex to manifest itself, as simple and casual as the sun coming out every morning?A masterful movie by masterful writers and director, a movie that Hollywood will never dare to make and miles ahead of any of its tepid, pussyfooting productions touching homosexuality. It should be a movie to be shown BY LAW in every school in every country of the world.Do not worry, it will never happen, we'll go on as we are going now, and who knows for how much longer...

There's a surprising use of nudity and sex (both het and homo) in a movie from Peru, even if the money was from Spain.Good leads. Seemingly honest portrayal of the difficulty of living ones own life, instead of the one expected of you by parents, friends, and society.It proves you can have your cake and eat it too, but at some dreadful costs.

Santiago Magill does an excellent job playing the main character as a frightened boy, a confused teenager, a drifter, and finally a "normal" person. All along the way, he is at war with himself. He hates the fact that he is gay in a world full of all sorts of bigotry including homophobia, a world of Hemingway's "macho code" (fighting, hunting, drinking, having sex), and a world that pretends to be dedicated to God when it is really nothing but a sham.There are numerous surprises in the film for the young hero as well as for the audience. Many surprises come from the ironies involved in putting up a false-front of honesty to hide falsehoods. We see how drugs and manipulations are used to hide from everyone -- including one's true self. The ending is an ironic surprise too.This is a bittersweet story of a man coming to terms with himself -- if, in fact, he does. The film is well-made and worth watching. Too bad it didn't get wider distribution in theaters, but now it can be enjoyed on video and DVD. If you get the chance, see it. It's a funny, sad, and gripping story of not telling anyone who you are.

Recently shown at the official Swedish Film Festival in Gothenburg (99/02). I hope this movie reaches a wider audience all over Europe. An honest and sincere story about the sometimes painful "coming-out" process. Although quite graphic at some points the story includes both comic relief, sappy moments, great writing and as a bonus a great soundtrack. Fredrik Olsson 99-02-08