WATCH: New to Rio, a closeted young man falls down a destructive path in this hedonistic Brazilian thriller
Streets Of Glória from writer-director Felipe Sholl.Subscribe to our newsletter for your front-row seat to all things entertainment with a sprinkle of everything else queer.The film follows Gabriel (Caio Macedo), a young closeted teacher who moves to the bustling Rio de Janeiro after the passing of his beloved grandmother, who was really the only family member he kept in touch with.Now aimless and alone, he wanders the streets of the city until curiosity brings him to the neon-lit The Glória, a neighborhood bar with an exciting vibe.Once inside, Gabriel feels right at home, and it’s not long before he befriends the hot spot’s magnetic owner, Mônica (Diva Menner) and he eclectic queer family, who take the newbie under their wing.
In fact, “when you’re here, you’re family” would probably be a pretty good tagline for The Glória—if Applebee’s hand’t already taken it!But someone else catches Gabriel’s eye at the bar: The handsome, enigmatic Adriano (Alejandro Claveaux), a male escort who seems to be the object of everyone’s affection.Last month I had to use Google Translate at my local pharmacy because I didn’t know how to say in Portuguese, “Help, I have pubic lice.”After an initial failed attempt at saying hello, the two men soon connect and find they have a fiery chemistry.
Next thing Gabriel knows, he’s accompanying Adriano on some jobs, learning the rope, and even joining in on the action. Yeah, he’s down bad.But their explosive affair is over almost as soon as it started when, one day, Adriano is gone without a trace, leaving Gabriel with nothing but questions.
