Leaving the watchful, sometimes critical, and always protective eyes of parents behind often marks true coming-of-age narratives. This holds true for young Eduardo (Alejandro Quintana) in the forthcoming Mexican drama, The Last First Time, where a single eventful day thrusts him into adulthood, reports Queerty.
Eighteen-year-old Eduardo, raised in a rural Jalisco village, experiences a stark culture shock upon his solo trip to the bustling city of Guadalajara to take his university entrance exam. However, academic preparation appears to take a backseat when the curious teen encounters Mario (Carlos E. López Cervantes), a city dweller who quickly captivates him with his worldly charm and adventurous spirit. Without parental guidance to offer an alternative path, Eduardo embarks on a journey with Mario. Their pleasant afternoon evolves into an evening of continuous partying and a string of first-time experiences.
As the usually reserved Eduardo lowers his defenses and explores his sexuality for the first time, his night transforms into a significant coming-of-age milestone.
The Last First Time, the debut feature from filmmaker Rafael Ruiz Espejo (known for his previous short films in the Boys On Film & The Male Gaze anthology collections), presents a vibrant, neon-lit exploration of self-discovery that proves utterly captivating. In a press statement, the writer-director explains, “I’m not interested in educating anyone. What I want is to tell stories about sexual and gender diversity, without self-censorship and without trying to make them friendly to heteronormative audiences.”
Ruiz Espejo adds, “I want to make a film that makes the LGBTIQ+ community feel represented on screen, in its brilliant moments and its contradictions.”
The Last First Time is scheduled for its world premiere next week, on Thursday, April 24th, at the San Francisco International Film Festival. Following this, it will make its European debut at the Pink Apple Film Festival in Zurich, Switzerland on May 2nd, and subsequently at the Queer Movie Nights festival in Athens, Greece on May 10th.
