A Male (Spanish: Un varón) is a 2022 drama film written and directed by Fabián Hernández Alvarado in his directorial debut. Starring Felipe Ramírez Espitia. It is about a teenager who will have to face the ferocity of his neighborhood where the codes of masculinity and the law of the strongest is mandatory to survive. It is a co-production between Colombia, Germany, France and the Netherlands.
A Male had its world premiere on May 24, 2022, at Directors' Fortnight at the 75th Cannes Film Festival, where it competed for the Caméra d'Or and the Queer Palm. It was selected as the Colombian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards.
Synopsis
Carlos lives in a boarding school in the center of Bogotá, a kind of refuge where the harshness and troubles of life are mitigated. Carlos longs to spend Christmas with his mother and sister, immersed in circles of urban violence. Upon leaving the boarding school, Carlos confronts the rigor of the streets of his neighborhood, where the law of the strongest, the most masculine prevails. He will have to choose between following these codes of masculinity or trusting his deep nature.
Cast
The actors participating in this film are:
- Felipe Ramírez Espitia as Carlos
- Juanita Carrillo Ortiz as Nicole
- Jhonathan Steven Rodríguez as Freddy
Production
Principal photography began in 2021 for 5 weeks in the Las Cruces, San Bernardo and Santa Fe neighborhoods, as well as Los Mártires with the La Pepita, La Estanzuela and Voto Nacional neighborhoods and in Puente Aranda in the UPI Integral Protection Unit located in Bogotá, Colombia.
Release
Festivals
A Male had its world premiere on May 24, 2022, at Directors' Fortnight at the 75th Cannes Film Festival, then screened on August 4, 2022, at the 26th Lima Film Festival, on September 22, 2022, at the 70th San Sebastian International Film Festival and on March 24, 2023, at the Cartagena International Film Festival.
Theatrical
It was released commercially on March 15, 2023, in French theaters and on April 13 of the same year in Colombian theaters.
Reception
Critical reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 86% of 7 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.5/10.
Accolades
| Year | Award / Festival | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Cannes Film Festival | Caméra d’Or | A Male | Nominated | |
| Queer Palm | Nominated | ||||
| Guanajuato International Film Festival | Best International Feature Film | Nominated | |||
| Lima Film Festival | Best Picture | Nominated | |||
| Special Jury Award | Won | ||||
| Best Actor | Felipe Ramírez Espitia | Won | |||
| Competition Fiction - Best Cinematography | Sofía Oggioni Hatt | Won | |||
| International Critics Jury Award for Best Film | A Male | Won | |||
| Nara International Film Festival | Golden Shika Award | Nominated | |||
| San Sebastian International Film Festival | Horizontes Award | Nominated | |||
| Sebastiane Award | Nominated | ||||
| São Paulo International Film Festival | Best Film - Jury Prize | Nominated | |||
| Paris Gay and Lesbian Film Festival | Libertés Chéries Award | Won | |||
| International Festival of New Latin American Cinema of Havana | Arrecife Award | Won | |||
| Pingyao International Film Festival | Jury Special Mention | Won | |||
| 2023 | Fribourg International Film Festival | Grand Prix | Nominated | ||
| Macondo Awards | Best Picture | Nominated | |||
| Best Director | Fabián Hernández Alvarado | Nominated | |||
| Best Cinematography | Sofia Oggioni | Nominated | |||
| Best Art Direction | Juan Bernal | Nominated |
