Esteros, a tender Argentine drama directed by Papu Curotto, tells the story of two childhood friends, Matias and Jeronimo, who reconnect after a decade apart. As children, they shared a budding romantic connection, only for it to be disrupted when Matias's family moved to Brazil. Now adults, Matias, a reserved scientist with a girlfriend, encounters Jeronimo, who has come to terms with his sexuality and lives a free-spirited life. This unexpected reunion stirs up forgotten feelings and brings Matias face-to-face with his past.
The Power of Place in Esteros
Director Papu Curotto uses Argentina’s estuaries as more than just a scenic backdrop—they become a central symbol of the characters’ shared history and evolving emotions. The estuaries represent the fluid, shifting nature of love and identity, serving as both a sanctuary and a reminder of what might have been. The film’s natural beauty enhances the sense of nostalgia and deep connection between Matias and Jeronimo, making their past feel as present as their current lives.
“No one paints hearts anymore… no one makes promises anymore…”
The core of Esteros lies in its exploration of memory and the struggle for self-acceptance. Matias has spent much of his life suppressing who he is, trying to fit into a mold, while Jeronimo embraces his true self with an unapologetic openness. This dichotomy highlights the challenges queer individuals face in navigating societal and familial expectations. Matias’s internal conflict is made palpable in his interactions with Jeronimo, as the two men revisit their bond with a mixture of affection and sadness.
“Sometimes I feel like you’re on mute… like those TVs that don’t let you turn the volume all the way up…”
Ignacio Rogers (Matias) and Esteban Masturini (Jeronimo) deliver performances filled with longing and subtlety. Their chemistry feels genuine, and their nuanced portrayal of rediscovered love is underscored by moments of silence, nostalgia, and a sense of vulnerability that words cannot always capture. Their ability to convey the weight of their shared past with mere glances brings authenticity and depth to the film.
Matias’s life choices, particularly his decision to move away and create a “conventional” life, reflect societal pressures to conform. Through his interactions with Jeronimo, Matias realizes that he’s sacrificed parts of himself to meet others’ expectations. The film handles this with delicacy, acknowledging the pain of suppressed identity while offering hope for self-discovery.
The film’s cinematography captures the intimate, quiet moments between the characters against Argentina’s sweeping landscapes. The cinematographer emphasizes close-up shots, allowing the audience to linger on each character’s expressions, as if witnessing the inner turmoil and blossoming emotions firsthand. These visual choices, paired with a carefully paced narrative, give Esteros a contemplative, poetic quality.
“Loves like ours are getting fewer and fewer… feelings, like unicorns, are disappearing…”
Esteros is a heartfelt, introspective film that touches on universal themes of love, identity, and the choices we make. It provides a rare, gentle portrayal of LGBTQ+ relationships set in a rural landscape, offering both beauty and sorrow as it explores the challenges of reconnecting with one’s true self. For those looking to expand their understanding of LGBTQ+ cinema, Esteros is a film that resonates with the quiet power of rediscovered love and the timeless importance of being true to oneself.
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