4 Moons (2014)

This is a cleverly constructed series of 4 interwoven dramas telling stories of gay identity. The first features a young boy coming to terms with an infatuation at school and the consequences; the second with two best friends at school who reunite as young adults and discover there is more to their friendship; the third is an established couple going through their almost obligatory, irrational, relationship menopause and finally an older (married with a family) professor who frequents a sauna where he falls for a young prostitute trying to raise money to flee from Mexico to the USA. In themselves, none of the stories are particularly novel; we face the usual portrayals of fear, anger, lust, betrayal, lack of commitment and yes, there is even some love and reconciliation. The sensitive way the film deals with these issues, and some quite decent, at times nuanced, performances - as well as the use of a gently accompanying score makes this film much greater than the sum of the parts.

This is an extended episode of a Mexican soap opera, except boring, and the principal characters are gay. A handful of moments--notably the last five minutes--have the impact they were intended to have but overall this is ineffectual.