The queer coming-of-age drama The Last First Time from Mexico follows a familiar template—an 18-year-old small-town boy discovering himself in the big city—but its unforced joy and upfront embrace of pleasure and desire set it apart. The film features strong performances from its young cast, particularly Alejandro Quintana as Eduardo.
A Night of Transformation
Alejandro Quintana plays Eduardo, a studious teenager who arrives in Guadalajara, Mexico's second-largest city, wearing a sensible button-up shirt to take a university entrance exam. His phone buzzes constantly with messages and calls from his mother, whose harsh tone hints at tension, possibly around his sexuality. After the exam, Eduardo meets Mario, a student described as a Caravaggio-esque beauty, who invites him back to his house. But upon arrival, Eduardo discovers Mario's family is throwing him a birthday party—a surprise that only briefly interrupts their hookup, as Mario is fully accepted at home.
Joy Without Darkness
One of the film's strengths is its refusal to turn dark. The only exception is a dodgy older man in a club with predatory vibes, but otherwise, all of Eduardo's memories are happy. He stares intently at everyone and everything, as if trying to freeze time, storing details as he heads out for the night with Mario and his friends. Clearly, this is Eduardo's first time away from his parents, and he dives in headfirst: sex, tequila, a gay club, poppers, and half a tattoo. Eduardo vomits over his shirt and pees on his phone. The next morning, on the bus home, he is a changed man.
A Familiar Yet Unique Story
The Last First Time is a slight wisp of a film, and some audiences may feel they've seen this sort of thing many times before. But coming-out stories, as the film suggests, are like snowflakes or fingerprints: no two are the same. The movie will be available on digital platforms from 16 July.
