At long last, A Strange Way Of Life is here. Yee-haw!
Ever since it was announced that auteur filmmaker Pedro Alomodóvar would be making a short about gay cowboys—his answer to Brokeback Mountain—we’ve been hot on its trail, like a sheriff tracking a “WANTED” outlaw through the desert.
While photos and a trailer have offered tantalizing glimpses of the Western romance between Pedro Pascal and Ethan Hawke, we’ve been patiently more details: How gay is A Strange Way Of Life, really? How hot is it?
Well, today, many of those questions are answered as the English-language film celebrates its world premiere at the 76th Annual Cannes Film Festival in France.
First things first, Cannes is as much a fashion show as it is a film fest, and Almodóvar and his cast did not disappoint! Pascal, sadly, was absent—presumably busy filming another project since he is our current reigning “It Daddy.” But Hawke looked great in a white suit, and his younger co-stars left zero crumbs on that carpet.
Just a look at that collective smolder between Manu Riós, Jason Fernández, José Condessa, and George Steane! Riós and Condessa, in particular, win the day by showing off a healthy amount of man-cleavage.
How sexy is A Strange Way Of Life?
As for the film itself, a new feature from Indiewire offers the most detailed glimpse yet of what we do—and don’t—see in A Strange Way Of Life.
As writer Eric Kohn notes, the short “isn’t graphic,” although many will be pleased to know it does offer a “fleeting glimpse” of Pascal’s behind. Instead, the film has its fair share of intimate, charged moments between its stars, who share an electric chemistry.
Almodóvar says his intention was to evoke sexuality without the sex. “The film is full of these moments that are erotic without being explicit sexually or having to do with any kind of physical nakedness,” the director tells Indiewire. “There’s a certain intensity, these pauses, that are very erotic and carnal for me.”
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According to Pascal, that kind of erotic chemistry comes easy with the right director and co-star: “[Almodóvar] put his trust in us to inhabit the story as he felt so much of the work was accomplished by casting,” he says. ‘I think there’s a disarming and playful sexiness to everything [the director] does, so it’s exciting to step into that world. It also helped to have a scene partner as good as Ethan.”
At a post-premiere Q&A, Hawke playfully echoed that sentiment—and got us all riled up in the process: “I like to be wanted, you know? I don’t care. If it happens to be a very attractive, extremely talented man, all the better,” he says, referring to Pascal. Same, Ethan! Same.
The first reactions and reviews to A Strange Way Of Life
Shortly after A Strange Way Of Life received a rapturous standing ovation at Cannes, reactions and reviews came pouring in online.
Overall, folks sounds pretty positive on the short, hailing Pascal and Hawke’s sizzling chemistry, as well as Almodóvar’s typically “fun and florid” direction. If there’s one complaint, it’s that people wish it were longer!
The Playlist hails the film as “terrific” and lauds the “palpable” spark between the stars, while The Guardian remarks on the poignant, “robust and old-fashioned storytelling” brings to the table, enlivening a dusty genre with color and queerness.
Indiewire‘s own review calls the film “tantalizing,” if a little slight, but adds, “Hawke and Pascal still manage to squeeze more heat and tenderness into a single fade-to-black than The Power Of The Dog.”
A few more lucky filmgoers (apparently the premiere screening was so in demand that many had to be turned away), took to Twitter to share their initial thoughts:
And, among the attendees was Tony-nominated queer playwright Jeremy O. Harris, who shared his thoughts about the film, and then went one step further, posting a video of Riós and Condessa flashing those pecs as they take the stage during a standing ovation. Everybody say, “Thank you, Jeremy!”
We’re still anxiously awaiting details on when the rest of the world can see A Strange Way Of Life, but stay tuned to Sony Pictures Classics’ website for release updates coming soon.
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MidCenturyQueen
Amazing that people here are starting to discover what Almodovar has been doing for almost 40 years. Check out Law of Desire with a young sexy Antonio Banderas. It is all there.
eeebee333
MCQueen, did you ever see Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown? One of the funniest movies ever.
Doug
I’ve seen all of his films and “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown” is still my favorite. Let’s hope this short film finds a way to get seen… there’s not much of a market for them. His 30-minute version of “The Human Voice” with Tilda Swinton he made three years ago is almost impossible to find now.
avesraggiana
Women On The Verge…is also my favourite Almodovar movie. Loved it!
Kangol2
Thank you for mentioning Law of Desire! That was the first Almodóvar film I saw and it got me hooked. For whatever reason it’s often overlooked, but it’s so important in how it depicts out gay men and our desires (and also centers a trans character, well before anyone else was doing this).
But there are so many great Almodóvar films. My favorites in addition to Law of Desire include Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!, Volver, Bad Education, The Skin I Live In, Matador, All About My Mother, and Talk To Her.
dbmcvey
I’ve been a fan for decades, since I first say Women on the Verge in 1988, then I made it a quest to see all his movies. A great director.
Bengali
I do not understand this obsession with Pedro Pascal. He does nothing for me. I’m not saying the obsession is unwarranted. i just prefer guys like Manu Rios (Patrick from Elite) because he looks incredible.
avesraggiana
I go for Pascal’s daddy-vibe myself. Sorry, I’m no help.
dbmcvey
To each his own.
[email protected]
The Last Of Us is waaaaaaaay over rated like Succession.
Invader7
Love Almodovar is awesome. ‘Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown’ is one of my Top 10 fav flicks of all time. I nearly choked on my popcorn during several scenes. I died laughing at throughout the film…. Pure comic genius..
abfab
I can’t believe I haven’t seen WOTVOANB! Wasn’t it a Broadway play decades ago? Must see. Will see!
dbmcvey
Weird, I just put a description of the musical and the mods caught it. It was from 2010, Dave Yazbeck who wrote the music for Full Monty wrote the music. It’s good. Don’t know what triggered the mods.
SDR94103
oh hell no.
dbmcvey
This is always your reaction. You must be real fun to be around /s.
inbama
Almadovar’s partner of 21 years, Fernando Iglesias, is “daddy-hot” like that Bronzino portrait of Andrea Doria in Queerty’s recent Rennaisance piece.