Nino (Nicolás Diaz) is forced to leave the small town he lives in with his family after being beaten up by a group of kids, who suspect him of being gay. Rather than be horrified about what their children have done, the parents drive Nino out of town claiming that he’s a corruptive influence. Moving to a remote village in Argentina, Nino’s family hope that religion will help put him back on the right track but instead he’s drawn to the myth of the ‘Almamula’, a monster from folklore who is believed to lurk in the nearby woods and may be responsible for the disappearance of another young boy.
‘Carnal Sins’ comes from director and writer Juan Sebastián Torales, and it cleverly mixes a coming-of-age tale with Argentinian folklore. The end result is a film that is at times unsettling but that never sags along its 96-minute run-time. The opening sequence of Nino being brutally beaten and left in the back of a truck by the kids from his neighbourhood is harrowing. The fact that the parents of those kids take no responsibility for their children, and actually support their intolerance, is even more horrifying.
Nino’s family aren’t thrilled to have to move away. His sister Natalia (Martina Grimaldi) blames him and his father remains distant, even though they are now much closer to where he’s working. With the absence of a father figure, Nino bonds with local labourer Malevo (Beto Frágola), an older man who becomes an accidental mentor to the young boy and an object of desire. The belief that religion will be able to right Nino’s perceived wrongs proves a mistake, given that Nino is now surrounded by half-naked pictures and statues of men. This only serves to push him to further explore his sexuality.
As Nino begins to have sexual dreams about the men he encounters, he’s drawn to the forbidden woods that surround his new home. Is the Almamula real or is it a local myth that’s been created to scare children who may be anything other than heterosexual? I won’t give you the answer to that here but the film certainly does explore that question right up until its final scene.
At the centre of everything is Nicolás Diaz who gives a quiet performance as Nino. The actor embodies the internalised struggle that Nino is facing and he plays the character as almost silent. Nino is made to feel small by those around him and he essentially harks back into the shadows at every opportunity. His imagination and his dreams are the only places he can truly be himself, although his blossoming and unexpected friendship with Malevo offers him some much-needed human interaction.
‘Carnal Sins’ is a compelling and intriguing film. There is much to admire about what Torales has created here, with the richly complex story driving the film forward and firmly ensuring that the audience remains invested in Nino. The exploration of religion versus sexuality is one that has been raging on for a very long time, and Torales makes his points on that conflict very clear. Mixing reality with fantasy elements, the film is one of the most interesting pieces of gay cinemas I’ve seen in a while and it’s most definitely worthy of your time.
Cast: Nicolás Diaz, María Soldi, Martina Grimaldi, Beto Frágola Director: Juan Sebastián Torales Writer: Juan Sebastián Torales Certificate: 18 Duration: 96 mins Released by: TLA Releasing Release date: 25th March 2024 Buy ‘Carnal Sins’ now
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