
The Third One
2014

Representation Score
Good
2019
Not RatedDirector
Marco Berger
Runtime
108 minutes
Average Rating
No ratings yetNew Showbiz Analysis
Marco Berger’s film is a sophisticated exploration of desire that dismantles conventional masculinity through quiet, domestic tension. By focusing on the atmospheric connection between Gabriel and Juan, the film moves beyond performative machismo to find authentic intimacy. The strength of the work lies in its refusal to rely on external societal opposition or queer clichés. Instead, it grants characters real power through a subtle, symbolic approach to attraction. While the film excels in challenging traditional gender roles and presenting a localized perspective, it does not engage with multi-layered racial dynamics or disability, keeping the focus strictly on the interpersonal.
Category Breakdown
The film centers on the intimate relationship and non-straight attraction between two men. It avoids tragic clichés, focusing instead on the nuanced, lived experience. Tension arises from the unspoken dynamics between Gabriel and Juan. The narrative prioritizes a queer perspective where the focus is on the subtle connections.
The story challenges traditional gender hierarchies by deconstructing machismo. Initially, Juan presents a facade of masculine dominance, but the narrative reveals his vulnerability. This subverts rigid, straight-centered gender roles.
Set in the Buenos Aires suburbs, the film reflects a specific South American middle-class context. While the cast is somewhat homogeneous, it offers a localized perspective outside Western-centric norms. It does not focus on the overlapping aspects of racial diversity.
The film prioritizes individual emotional truth over religious or institutional guidance. It focuses on the private, domestic sphere, de-emphasizing traditional structures like the nuclear family in favor of fluid human connection.
There are no prominent depictions of physical or neurodivergent disabilities that serve as central narrative elements.
Present on Screen
Limited or Absent
Official Synopsis
Gabriel has just moved in with Juan. Shy and reserved, Gabo resists Juan’s wandering hands and intense gaze. With a parade of beauties filing out of Juan’s bedroom, his machismo seems firmly entrenched. Yet, the attraction between the two men is undeniable. What begins as a sexual arrangement born of proximity soon evolves into a captivating, tender, and intimate relationship - one that is as sweet as it is heartbreaking.

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