Hidden Away (A Escondidas)
Bitart New Media / TLA Releasing (2015)
Drama, Queer Themes/Interest
In Collection
#370
8*
Seen ItYes
(6/4/2016 Home & again on 8/21/2018)
IMDB   7.0
88 mins Spain / Spanish
DVD  Region 1   14A
Alex Angulo
Ana Wagener
Director
Mikel Rueda
Writer/Composer Mikel Rueda


In the bathroom of a crowded nightclub, Ibrahim, a 14-year old Moroccan boy, crosses paths with Spanish teen Rafa. Although they exchange only a fleeting glance, the encounter has a profound effect on the pair. As his friends try and set him up with a local girl, Rafa’s thoughts remain with Ibrahim. Meanwhile, Ibrahim finds himself isolated in the big city, treated like an outsider, with the threat of deportation hanging over his head. When the two boys meet again, they form a close bond and decide to work together to find a way for Ibrahim to escape his fate and live the life he wants. Against a backdrop of societal pressures and racial tensions, Mikel Rueda’s arresting debut boasts two charming performances from its young male leads, expertly capturing the fears and excitement of first love. – Michael Blyth, BFI Flare
Edition Details
Original Title A Escondidas (on the quite, secretly, hidden)
Distributor TLA Releasing
Release Date 2014
Packaging Snap Case
Screen Ratio Anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1)
Theatrical Widescreen (2.35:1)
Subtitles English
Audio Tracks Dolby Digital Stereo [Spanish]
SUB [English]
No. of Discs/Tapes 1
Personal Details
Purchase Date 4/24/2016
Location Personal Library
Owner Deitz
Store TLA Releasing
Current Value $20.00
Tags coming of age
Links - Review: Hollywood Reporter
+6 Review QueerGuru (Rober Walker-Dack 26 April 2015)
+ Review: The GayUK
A escondidas at Core for Movies
IMDB
TheMovieDb.org
References
Streaming, VoD Not Found
Lists ‡ IMDb Best Gay Themed by Metonymy
QueerGuru Rating 6

Notes
As I first starting viewing this film I said to myself "Oh no, not another soppy teanage coming of age story" -- but it did not take me long to realize that it is actually a film about friendship, and more particularly, a friendship that blossoms between two unlikely characters -- the movie's title "a escondidas" (which might be better translated "on the quite, secretly") is not just because of a nascent forbidden homosexuality between the boys -- but perhaps more importantly, because of the mileu in which they find themselves -- which includes xenophobia toward Moroccans by Spaniards, at least within the social class of these kids -- this is a loving movie -- I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The DVD cover which shows the two youth lying next to each other shirtless (with the implication that they are naked) never appears in the movie. The cover also quote "A moving and heartfelt gay first love story." I think it is too early in their lives so say that their love is "gay," an abiding sexual attraction of a male to other males, although they do at one point tentatively kiss, and recognize a sexual component to their relationship.

This is another film where little thought apparently has been given to the captions, which are small and often hard to read. Fortunately, the acting is excellent, and missing some dialogue doesn't detract much.