Jero (Cristian Mariani) is blissfully happy in his relationship with Tom (Gastón Frías) so he’s devastated to discover that Tom has abandoned him on the day of their first anniversary. Unable to understand what could have caused Tom to act in that way, Jero reads through a box of 300 letters written by Tom. The letters seek to explain why their relationship reached the conclusion it did, and as Jero works his way through them, he realises that the relationship was nothing like he thought it was.
‘300 Letters’ is something a little bit different in gay cinema, and its premise is pretty brutal. Jero has no idea that there’s anything wrong in his relationship, so when he discovers Tom’s letters, he’s plunged into a world he never expected to find himself in. How can two people spend an entire year together and feel completely different about the situation? That’s what this film seeks to explore. As Jero reads the letters, in the order they were written, he gets a completely different look at his relationship with Tom, and his own perception of himself.
The early days of Jero and Tom’s relationship is dominated by sex. They meet up initially for a one-time hook-up that turns into something more. Did Jero mistakenly believe they were in a relationship or was Tom leading him on, inevitably always going to reach the point they did? Over the course of the film we see many glimpses of their lives together from threesomes to arguments, the entire relationship plays out. Is the viewer supposed to decide who’s right and who’s wrong? Not really, but you find yourself switching allegiance with the two main characters at various points.
The standout in the film is Cristian Mariani. As Jero, he has to portray a character whose entire world has unexpectedly fallen about. It’s no easy feat but he has a natural charisma that makes him compelling to watch. His performance is a lot more sympathetic than Gastón Frías’ Tom, who comes across as a selfish arsehole. Between the two former lovers is Esteban (Bruno Giganti), Jero’s close friend and confidante whose job it is to pick his friend up off the floor and help him move on. There’s some enjoyable friction between Esteban and Tom that gives the film its best moments.
‘300 Letters’ is an interesting watch. It may not reach the heights of classic but there’s plenty here to keep you engaged. Jero is a sympathetic character that you can get on board with, and there’s something addictive about watching him relive his relationship in a completely different way. With plenty of humour, a bit of heart and plenty of eye candy, ‘300 Letters’ is a lot of fun. It makes you really think about how each one of us has different takes on the same situation, and it could prove an eye opener for those viewers who walk through life believing their viewpoint is the only one that matters.
Cast: Cristian Mariani, Gastón Frías, Bruno Giganti Director: Lucas Santa Ana Writers: Gustavo Cabaña & Lucas Santa Ana Certificate: Unrated Duration: 91 mins Released by: Cinephobia Releasing Release date: 11th November 2025
