Eisenstein in Guanajuato (2015)

Elmer Bäck and Luis Alberti star in writer/director Peter Greenaway’s 2015 film EISENSTEIN IN GUANAJUATO, about pioneering gay director Sergei Eisenstein and his time in Mexico.

Today’s post was written by author/critic Gary Kramer (@garyemkramer on Instagram) - for more on EISENSTEIN IN GUANAJUATO be sure to check out his Salon interview with the filmmaker and the two lead actors!

Eisenstein in Guanajuato is Peter Greenaway’s ecstatic and extravagantly sexy film about the famous gay Russian director (Elmer Bäck). In 1931 Mexico, the filmmaker meets his local guide, Palomino Cañedo (Luis Alberti), who administers to the director’s every need.

Palomino eventually initiates Eisenstein to gay sex, deflowering him in a fabulous sequence that includes Palomino comically planting a flag in the filmmaker's naked ass. The gay romance is affectionate as portrayed in the copious nude and bedroom scenes, but the film's plotting is equally compelling. Greenaway shoots EISENSTEIN IN GUANAJUATO in his patented eye-popping style, and he artfully and audaciously plays with shadows and projected images, split screens, camera pans, and distorted lenses, while also incorporating photographs and film clips into the story. But the film is equally impressive especially for allowing its actors to bring Eisenstein’s emotional catharsis—in the heat of professional crisis, no less—to life.

Bäck delivers a fabulous performance, capturing the intensity and liberation Eisenstein experiences, acting even with his unkempt hair. Alberti is also fantastic as Palomino. He projects a confidence in and out of his debonair clothes that makes him irresistible. The film also includes many discussions on sex and death and filmmaking that make this story about creativity and sexuality one of the director's best.

EISENSTEIN IN GUANAJUATO

2015. Netherlands, Mexico, Belgium, Finland, France.

Director: Peter Greenaway

Screenplay: Peter Greenaway

Starring: Elmer Bäck, Luis Alberti, Stelio Savante, Lisa Owen, Maya Zapata, Jakob Öhrman, Rasmus Slätis, Raino Ranta and América Rodríguez

EISENSTEIN IN GUANAJUATO is streaming on Tubi (USA), Fijo (Mexico), available on DVD/Blu-ray, and for rent/purchase through Amazon (UK), YouTube, Vudu and Google Play (USA).