aGLIFF Preview: Manuela y Manuel

AGLIFF: Manuela y Manuel
Today, September 3, 5pm
Alamo Drafthouse Downtown (320 E 6th Street)
Badges still on sale, $350; Some single tickets may be available at the door
[info] | [tickets]

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Due to logistical issue with the print of Manuela y Manuel, the film has been replaced with The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela for tonight's screening. The Amazing Truth follows Raquela (Raquela Rios), a Philippino transsexual internet porn star who moves to Iceland while longing for the city of her dreams, Paris. A full description can be found here.

aGLIFF kicks off this afternoon, and one of the films showing this first day is Manuela y Manuel, a screwball comedy from Puerto Rico.

The film focuses on Manuela/Manuel (Humberto Busto), a drag queen still obsessed with his ex, Toño. His best pal, Coca (Elena Iguina), discovers that a one-night stand has left her pregnant and begs Manuela to help her tell her parents in the guise of her boyfriend. Manuela is convinced to appear to Coca's parents as Scott, a soldier headed to Iraq, enlisting his devout landlady's help in the charade. Throw in a father who visits drag clubs, a near-sighted niece, a transgendered frenemy with digestive issues, a lot of laughs and a small dash of telenovela (at a revelatory moment of the film), and you have quite the humorous film.

Note: The film is in Spanish with subtitles. Keep an eye out for the only stereotypical character - a Texan, of course.

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