Night Stage

Bluesky

Matias (Gabriel Faryas) and Fabio (Henrique Barreira) are flatmates and members of the same theatre troupe. There’s a hint of sexual tension between them which suggests that at some point they might have been, or hoped for, something more, and it feeds into their professional jealousy. This is exacerbated by their competition for a role in a new TV series, and by the play that is about to open, in which they struggle together on a ledge, one is supposed to fall, and the one who can successfully stay up there gets to deliver the closing monologue.

Both young men invest a great deal in impressing the public by pretending to be something they’re not, both onstage/on camera and, eventually, off, when a TV producer insists that her star must have a public image compatible with his character. A similar concern haunts another of the film’s characters, Rafael (Cirillo Luna), whom Matias meets via a Grindr-style app. He’s a man who doesn’t do second dates, or so he insists when they meet, but after they’ve spent a passionate night together he forsakes that rule, leading to trouble for both of them.

Confidently handled by directors Filipe Matzembacher and Marcio Reolon, the film is shot in gorgeous shades of noir by Luciana Baseggio, and has a deliciously dark, sultry score. All this shadow is interesting given that what really complicates things for the new couple is the thrill they find in having sex where they might be seen. It’s a dangerous habit for men in their positions and it immediately arouses the concern of Rafael’s security specialist, Camilo (Ivo Müller), who is in many ways the film’s most interesting character. Though there’s a suggestion that he too takes pleasure in what he sees, but he is strictly professional – he just takes his profession more seriously than others realise. In light of his fixation on getting the job done – even at the expence of the employer – viewers may wonder just what he means when he refers to having ‘taken care’ of his old boss.

With so much good work here it’s a shame that the film has two notable flaws. The first, and most serious, is the lack of chemistry between the two leads – in particular, Luna’s inability to evince attraction to Faryas (a feat which most viewers will not find difficult). The situations and the photography is erotic about the interactions themselves don’t quite convince – perhaps they are indeed best when merely glimpsed from a distance. The second problem is an unconvincing tacked-on ending, which might be motivated by a desire to avoid making yet another bleak film about gay men, but which seriously dilutes the overall impact.

Despite these problems, Night Stage is an enjoyable film with some really strong moments. The relationship between Matias and Fabio is intriguing throughout, as it evolves through several stages, and the latter’s tale has a certain poignancy, especially because this is a character who lacks the others’ guile, never really able to separate the personal and the professional. All three principals are victims of a society which demands that those who seek to succeed be willing to sacrifice everything else. Focused as they are on the ignominy of that final fall, they lose sight of the thrill of the climb.

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