MALA NOCHE
US, 1988, 78 minutes, Black and White.
Tim Streeter, Doug Cooeyate, Ray Monge, Nyla Mc Carthy.
Directed by Gus Van Sant.
Mala Noche is the first film written and directed by Gus Van Sant (based on a story by Walt Curtis). Filmed partly in colour and in black and white and on 16 mm, it has a short running time. Some of the dialogue is in Spanish with English subtitles.
However, it is an accomplished film - in an experimental mode, looking at American gay society, especially in the north-western states of the United States.
Van Sant was to go on to direct Drugstore Cowboy and the award-winning My Very Private Idaho. He continued to explore the themes of young people on the road, the drug culture, the gar culture. Van Sant's film has a certain grittiness about it but also a sense of humanity as well as a sense of humour.
1.The impact of the film? A first film? Experimental style? Assured direction and writing? A glimpse of life in Portland, Oregon? Skid Row? The gay subculture?
2.Black and white photography and colour photography? Spanish dialogue and subtitles? The variety of styles of photography: the picture of Portland, of the roads? The interiors? The colour insertions? The musical score?
3.The title, the focus on Johnny as the illegal immigrant from Mexico? His encounters with Walt? The contrast with Walt and his encounters with Roberto? The violence? The finale?
4.The focus on the city, the grocery store, Skid Row, the range of people in the neighbourhood, the drinkers, the vagrants? The atmosphere of violence, depression and poverty? The contrast with the open road, the advertisements, the countryside?
5.The portrait of Walt, his voice-over comments? His work in the grocery? The chance encounter with Johnny? His falling in love with him? Going to his sister's for dinner? The stories at the dinner table, Walt bringing the group home, his propositioning Johnny, his propositioning Roberto? Roberto and the encounter, taking Walt's money? Walt and the reaction to his self-respect, the encounter with Roberto? His decision to pursue Johnny? The ride, Johnny's driving, angers? His going to Johnny's room, humiliating himself? The humour and farce of the experience? Johnny's disappearance, Roberto coming in with Walt? Roberto ignoring Walt during the day? Walt and his apartment, the people around, the neighbours, the complaint, the police coming? Roberto fleeing and his death? Johnny's return and Walt's invitation, his explanation, his reaction to Roberto's death, carving the word `faggot' on Walt's door, leaving? Walt seeing Johnny in the shadows while driving, the invitation - the future? The portrait of a middle-aged man, alone, his relationship with his family, friends? His sexuality? Infatuated with Johnny, the ideal, pursuing him? The relationship with Roberto and its differences? His future?
6.Johnny, coming from Mexico, his friends? Wandering, looking for work? The dangers of the border crossing? Johnny's reaction to Walt, ignoring him? The reaction to Walt, especially the prostration? The driving in the country, his driving, angers? His disappearance, being taken back to Mexico, his escaping again? His reaction to Roberto's death, his anger with Walt, carving the word on the door? Johnny in the city, the significance of his smiling at Walt? His future?
7.Roberto, illegal migrant, the friends in Portland, the opportunities, the meal with Walt? Roberto responding to Walt, the sexual encounters? Ignoring him during the day? Taking his money? The police attack, Roberto and his fears, trying to escape, his death?
8.The background of the characters in Portland, Betty, the drinkers, the street hustlers? The people in the shops? Authentic atmosphere for the film, for the story, for the characters?
