"The Last First Time" is a queer coming-of-age drama from Mexico that feels familiar yet refreshingly genuine.
The story follows 18-year-old Eduardo, a small-town boy navigating his identity in the big city.
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Alejandro Quintana plays Eduardo, a studious teenager who arrives in Guadalajara for a university entrance exam.
He wears a sensible button-up shirt and constantly receives calls from his mother, whose harsh tone hints at tension around his sexuality.
After the exam, Eduardo meets Mario, a student with striking looks. Mario invites him home, only for Eduardo to discover a surprise birthday party.
The interruption is brief, as Mario is fully accepted by his family.
One of the film's joys is its refusal to turn dark, aside from a predatory older man at a club.
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Every memory Eduardo makes is happy. He stares intently at everyone and everything, as if trying to freeze time and store the details.
Clearly, this is Eduardo's first time away from his parents. He dives in headfirst: sex, tequila, a gay club, poppers, and half a tattoo.
He vomits on his shirt and pees on his phone. The next morning on the bus home, he is a changed person.
The film is a slight wisp, and some audiences may feel they've seen this before. But coming-out stories are like snowflakes: no two are the same.
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The performances from the young cast are terrific, and the film's upfront portrayal of teenage desire feels authentic.
