Ursinho

Film program, FR 2017, 45 min., port. OV + engl. UT

By: Stéphane Olijnyk

With: Digão Ribeiro, Rafael Braga, Wilson Rabelo, Luis Furlanetto

Ursinho is a poor black man living in the slums off the coast of Rio de Janeiro who divides his time between caring for his elderly and wheelchair-bound father, cleaning the house of a rich white man and visiting Point 202, a gay sauna. Digão Ribeiro’s character, in essence, spends his days serving older men who abuse positions of power: a controlling father who is never satisfied and a boss who exploits Ursinho’s labor and body. When he is smitten by a young white gigolo, the conflict which pits desire and homophobia against each other intensifies, reaching its climax in an exhibitionist confrontation with his father. A film about desire and repression, centered on a figure that society repeatedly says is not worthy of affection.

Supporting film: Emmanuel au milieu du desert

FR 2018, 35 min., franz. OV + engl. UT

By: Yannick

What starts off as an anecdote about French president Emmanuel Macron becomes a rumination on the differences between gay sex, desire and identity in the city and the countryside.