The Third One (2014)
Nicolás Armengol, Emiliano Dionisi and Carlos Echevarria star in Argentinian filmmaker Rodrigo Guerrero’s 2014 film THE THIRD ONE (El tercero).
Today’s post was written by author/critic Gary Kramer (@garyemkramer on Instagram) - Be sure to follow his Instagram account for fantastic reviews, as well as information on new queer film releases!
In THE THIRD ONE, writer/director Rodrigo Guerrero artfully explores the connections between three gay men—shrewdly never giving viewers any information other than what is presented on-screen. An opening sequence featuring a webcam chat between Franco (Nicolás Armengol), and Fede (Emiliano Dionisi) provides a sense of the characters’ personalities. Fede is a tease, rubbing his bare torso or grabbing his genitals in erotic ways. Franco eggs him on, and Hernán (Carlos Echevarria), Franco's partner, even asks Fede to undress.
The second act of THE THIRD ONE is almost entirely talk. Fede arrives at Franco and Hernán’s apartment, nervous and awkward, making small talk with the couple. It takes a while, along with two bottles of wine, to get Fede to open up. When the film enters its third act and the bedroom, Guerrero films it in real time without music and from sidelong and overhead angles. The effect—as if the audiences were lying on the bed itself—is fantastic: it allows viewers to experience the intimacy up close and personal. Every kiss and caress has meaning and emotion in part because viewers care about the characters by now. The affection between the actors is also palpable. Guerrero deliberately choreographed the sex scene, scripting it in detail, and the actors’ gestures were developed naturally. This is an extremely sensual episode, one that is much more satisfying than the flirting over the webcam or the pornographic clips that comprise the first act. THE THIRD ONE ends with a coda that emphasizes the pleasure that the characters experience. Audiences will feel blissed out as well.
THE THIRD ONE is available for rent/purchase and on DVD through TLA Releasing and also for rent/purchase through Prime (or AppleTV, depending on your location).
THE THIRD ONE
2014. ARGENTINA.
Director: Rodrigo Guerrero
Screenplay: Rodrigo Guerrero
Starring: Nicolás Armengol, Emiliano Dionisi, and Carlos Echevarria
