‘The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo’ Review: A Chilean Drama About HIV and Transgender Romance

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In the early days of the AIDS crisis, Diego Céspedes’ first dramatic work, characterized by its tender, humorous, passionate, and at times surreal style, delivers a profound emotional impact. This piece centers around a group of transgender women residing in a desert commune in northern Chile during 1982. “The Enigmatic Stare of the Flamingo” intertwines the harsh realities of oppression and superstition with subtle touches of grace bordering on magical realism, exploring the themes of love and violence inherent within every individual in a thought-provoking film.

Stepping into the cinema, I found myself engrossed in a thought-provoking film set against the backdrop of an unsettling rumor: prolonged eye contact with individuals identifying as gay or transgender is said to transmit a mysterious plague. This narrative is particularly relevant to young Lidia (played by Tamara Cortés), who, due to her mother Flamingo’s (Matías Catalán) transgender identity, becomes the target of bullying by her male peers. The film delves into the unique dynamics within a close-knit community of “transvestites,” a term self-affirmed by these women and part of their vibrant vernacular during the era.

This spirited, vibrant band of ladies, who go by unconventional nicknames such as Piranha, Lioness, and Star, retaliate gently on Lidia’s behalf in an unusual manner. They keep the young boys’ eyes open and make them stare into their own, which carries a deep symbolic significance. Although these supposed means of HIV transmission, based on actual beliefs about touch, were entirely fabricated by Céspedes, they provide a powerful foundation for the film’s drama stemming from cinematic gaze. By asking the boys to look at them, Flamingo and her companions are not only playfully commanding attention but also demanding to be seen and acknowledged as human beings at a time when fear often leads to indiscriminate dehumanization.

Although it’s set in the 1980s, the storyline seems strikingly relevant to modern news, considering global attempts to limit transgender rights. The heartwarming bond between Flamingo and Lidia, along with several transgender aunts protecting a cisgender child (symbolized by their protective circle like a lion’s pride), stands as a strong counterpoint to prejudiced narratives about trans individuals. However, “The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo” isn’t just a lesson in morality; it subtly communicates its message without being overtly didactic.

The story primarily revolves around Flamingo’s romance with a local miner named Yovani (Pedro Muñoz). He first appears in a heroic manner at the women’s makeshift cabaret, disrupting Flamingo’s drag act to gaze intently into her eyes. However, his affection for her soon sours when he reveals his illness, angrily accusing her of being the cause. This pattern of love and violence is a common theme in the film for many trans women characters. They are often seen as objects of disgust during the day, but at night they become secret objects of desire, always facing the threat of sudden outbursts of violence stemming from self-loathing vulnerability.

Or more briefly:

The story focuses on Flamingo’s romance with Yovani, a miner who initially appears heroically in a cabaret setting. Their relationship sours when Yovani becomes ill and blames Flamingo. Many trans women characters in the film experience this duality of love and violence. They are often seen as objects of disgust during the day and secret objects of desire at night, with the constant threat of violent outbursts from self-loathing vulnerability.

In these contradictory love stories, backed by the passionate horns from Florencia Di Concilio’s soundtrack, there lingers a constant threat of tragedy. This becomes evident when the local miners enact strict measures on women’s freedom, going as far as invading their homes and forcibly covering their eyes. This shift gradually pushes the film into the realm of symbolic surrealism, as the women react to this intrusion in unforeseen manners, both submitting to and challenging this occupation. Despite seemingly colonizing trans bodies, Céspedes focuses his lens on the inherent humanity within each of his subjects, even those who show blatant prejudice.

Redemption or forgiveness can be hard to achieve and may not always be consistent. There’s no ideal way to cope with victimization, which is why characters like Flamingo and her protector Boa (Paula Dinamarca), the disgruntled leader of the commune, have such varied narratives. The relationship between Flamingo and Yovani takes a challenging and sorrowful path, leaving Lidia burdened with unrealized revenge. Conversely, Boa experiences an unforeseen joy with Clemente (Luis Dubó), one of the older miners involved in the peculiar effort to suppress her family, even though the possibility of their relationship turning sour remains a concern.

Despite some instances where “The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo” seems to wander and struggles to strike the right balance during its conventional dialogue sequences, this movie truly shines in its expansive, open-air scenes featuring trans and genderqueer actors in prominent roles. These scenes capture individuals and pairs moving with a sense of authenticity, and whether the love portrayed is straightforward or intricate, romantic, friendly, or maternal, the film delivers deeply emotional moments that resonate profoundly by exploring both the harshness and kindness within its characters. The movie confronts hatred with compassion, causing it to soften, yet remains unyielding in its portrayal of the indomitable spirit required for unity in the face of profound injustice.

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2025-05-16 01:47