Psycho and Rotting in the Sun: what does Hitchcock have to do with gay comedy? [SPOILER]

Masterpiece of Sebastian Silva, Rotting in the Sun embraces the theme of suicide and satires the widespread behavior of gay men. The difference between the English and Spanish languages ​​enhances the narrative which, depending on the perspective from which it is watched, can be considered a comedy or a drama. The feature film arrived on Mubi on September 15th and was previously shown in the first edition of MUBI Festa festival at the Cinemateca Brasileira that took place in July.

But what does all this have to do with Alfred Hitchcock? The film starring Silva It is Jordan Firstman follows the structure that, although probably not created by the director, became known for his work in Psychosis(1960): whoever is apparently playing the protagonist dies halfway through the film.

In case of Psychosis, Janet Leigh — playing Marion Crane — is murdered by Norman Bates, played by Anthony Perkins, when there are still good minutes of the film left. In a big twist, the viewer starts to follow Norman’s story, which gained sequels in the following years.

The spoiler, obviously, is not related to the film released more than 60 years ago, but rather to Rotting in the Sun. We are absorbed by the depressive daily life full of unusual situations of Sebastianwho plays the character of the same name, until, suddenly, he dies in an accident that could have been avoided by the supervision of any architect or engineer on a construction site.

Jordan, who also plays the character of the same name, becomes the center of the narrative when he independently investigates what he believed to be the disappearance of the affair on Zicatela beach, in Mexico. When Silva manages to go from there to the best without having to commit suicide, as he planned, there is still more than an hour until the end of the feature film.

Veró, played by the genius Catalina Saavedrais another highlight of Rotting in the Sun and helps to build the mystery that Firstman try to unravel.