16-year-old Manuel (Martín Miller) is the son of a renowned guitar builder and musician. His family is thrilled when they hear that he has formed a garage band with his closest friends. Manuel plays the bass and helps to write songs, much to his father’s delight.
Manuel’s best friend since childhood, Felipe (Teo Inama Chiabrando), plays guitar and sings. The two have an old bond and an easy friendship, and being bandmates comes easily to them. Manuel has a talent for lyrics, a skill Felipe struggles with. Together, they and the two other band members scrape up the money to record a debut album.
Along the way, they plan to play at a friend’s birthday party: Their first real show. As the pressures of being in a band mount, Manuel begins having strange dreams about Felipe. He’s unsure what exactly they mean, but he’s afraid no one will understand if he talks about them. Could he be falling in love with his best friend?
This Argentinian teen drama is skillfully produced and incredibly well-acted. Music is a huge part of the film, and several full songs are played by the garage band. Lovers of pop-punk will really enjoy some of these tunes. The thing that stood out most about Sublime is the casual realism of the entire film, drawing viewers into an authentic and relatable world. This makes Sublime a standout choice for those appreciating genuine storytelling and musical passion.
The story itself is incredibly relatable no matter your gender or sexuality: Falling in love with a friend is scary, especially as a teenager. What if they reject you? Will it ruin the friendship you hold dear if you mention your feelings? Manuel lives through these questions and many more as he slowly builds up the courage to face his feelings. Those looking to expand drama collections or seeking LGBTQ+ content in Spanish will want to put Sublime high on their lists. It is a beautiful and universally relatable story of teenage love and friendship. Highly Recommended.
Where does this title belong on public library shelves?
Sublime would be equally welcome in LGBTQ+ collections and drama shelves.
What type of film series could use this title?
Any queer film series or Spanish-language drama series would benefit from the addition of Sublime.
Awards
- San Sebastian Film Festival (Winner: Sebastiane Latino Award)
- San Francisco (Winner: Grand Jury Prize Ibero American Competition)
Festival and Special Screenings
- Berlin
- San Sebastian
- Mar del Plata
- BFI Flare
- London BFI Flare Film Festival
- Cleveland
- Seattle
- San Francisco
- OutShine Film Festival
- Miami
- Outfest Los Angeles
- AFI Latin American Film Festival
- Seattle LGBTQ Film Festival
- Seattle Film Festival
- Rainbow Reel Tokyo
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