POINTS 8
Previously featured in the Argentine competition of this year’s BAFICI, Tae Kwon Do is the first film written, directed and edited by Marco Berger (Plan B, Ausente, Hawai, Mariposa) and co-directed with Martín Farina (Fullboy, which, in turn, was co-edited with Berger), who also handles the photography here. Here and abroad, Berger is deservedly well-known for films that have explored the nature of desire at large. Even more to the point, gay and homoerotic bonds with a distinctive eye and a special emphasis on the beauty of male bodies. So it’s deeply satisfying to see that their first joint effort (or second, if you take Fullboy as the first one) is an accomplished feature — particularly in its film form — within a realm that has very few local canons.
An ultra indie feature shot in nine days, Tae Kwon Do concerns a small group of friends who gather to spend some days together at a summer house in the outskirts of Buenos Aires. All of them are masculine youngsters of natural good looks and muscular, toned bodies, with defining singular traits. They’re not what you’d call Hollywood models; instead, they are far more interesting individuals. For these guys do boast the type of spontaneous beauty rightly associated of the vitality of youth, but also that of those who have a relaxed attitude about how they talk, look and move. In short: they are perfectly comfortable with who they are — which doesn’t mean everything about them is out in the open.
One of them, Germán (Gabriel Epstein), is absolutely gorgeous and has a crush on Fernando (Lucas Papa), the owner of the house, who seems aware of it and inconspicuously stares with deep desire into his eyes. Germán stares back every now and then while he discreetly hides the fact that he’s gay. For all we know, Fernando is supposed to be straight, just like the rest of his friends. Maybe they are, maybe they are not. That remains to be seen. One thing is for sure: some glances can sometimes be far too revealing.
Of course, there are some jokes about what boys do when they’re all by themselves, about being gay or not, macho comments about girlfriends and women at large, dialogue filled with double entendre, mischievous looks, and, above all, a fair dose of physical contact typical of male bonding. For the most part, all these guys do is engage into an array of assorted conversations as they rest by the pool, drink, and smoke lots of weed. Throughout these summer days at the country house, Germán wonders if his desire for Fernando will be requited and fulfilled. For there’s sure more than meets the eye at first sight.
Berger observes and cares for the trajectory desire draws until it finds its object, on how it usually spins around for quite some time, and then it finally makes the connection that will lead to make things happen. What is very appealing is how he can show you all the previous days, hours or minutes and how momentum is gained. By the time a kiss takes place, it’s all been said already.
Overall, the whole scenario looks and sound spontaneous, authentic and devoid of any artificiality — which is a very hard thing to do, but Berger has shown a knack for coaching his actors ever since Plan B, his first feature. So it’s great to see that once again the actors’ performances translate into good ensemble acting. It’s not hard to believe that these are true friends. Equally important is the colloquial dialogue and, needless to say, the effective body language.
As regards cinematography, Farina films these guys always stressing their beauty and their masculinity with an unobtrusive, subtle camera that frames them in their graceful, and apparently casual, movements and poses. He’d already shown a gifted eye for subtleties in Fullboy, his documentary about the behind the scenes of an Argentine professional soccer team. In Tae Kwon Do, his gaze up and close gaze focuses on their half-naked or downright naked bodies revealed in full splendour - expect tastefully rendered shots of thighs, butts, and bulges.
At times, the film’s minimalistic narrative may feel too minimal, yet if you pay close attention, you’d soon realize it’s all a matter of reading in between the shots, so to speak. Be it minor or major, something is always happening. Light weighted in a good way and unpretentious, Tae Kwon Do is a refreshing, engaging story where boys will fall for boys.
Production notes
Tae Kwon Do (Argentina, 2016) Directed by Marco Berger y Martín Farina. Written by Marco Berger. Cinematography: Martín Farina. Editing: Marco Berger. Music: Pedro Irusta. Sound: Tomás Sánchez. Running time: 107 minutes. Limited release: Gaumont.
@pablsuarez
