The film cuts between two timelines. In the 1990s, childhood best friends Matías and Jerónimo spend a carefree summer vacation in the rural esteros. Their innocent friendship blossoms into a fumbling, tender sexual awakening. But when Matías’s father gets a job offer in Brazil, the boys are cruelly separated. Years later, in their late 20s, Matías (now a reserved aspiring biologist) returns to the esteros for a local festival with his girlfriend. There, he is reunited with Jerónimo, who has grown into a free-spirited, openhearted young man living in the family home. The old spark, repressed for over a decade, immediately reignites.
Navigating the awkward, charged tension of two adults grappling with who they have become versus who they were to each other. Cinematic Style and Landscapes
: Flashbacks are used to contrast the innocence of their youth with the complexities of their adult lives. Esteros -2016-
Unearthing the Past: A Look Back at " Esteros " (2016) Released in 2016, the Argentine-Brazilian film (directed by Papu Curotto) emerged as a poignant standout in contemporary Latin American queer cinema . Rather than focusing solely on the individual struggle of coming out, the film dives deep into the complex nuances of shared history, childhood bonds, and the magnetic pull of first love. The Plot: A Journey from Innocence to Introspection
For those searching for a film that balances the innocence of first love with the crushing weight of adult compromise, Esteros —which translates to "estuaries" or "wetlands"—is essential viewing. The title itself is a perfect metaphor for the narrative: brackish, murky, caught between the fresh water of childhood and the salt water of reality, and teeming with life that is often hidden from plain sight. The film cuts between two timelines
It grounds the romance in the specific social and family dynamics of rural Argentina.
Furthermore, the film doesn’t break new thematic ground. Anyone familiar with LGBTQ+ cinema will recognize the beats: the idyllic childhood romance, the forced separation, the closeted adult return, the confrontation with the past. It’s a beautiful version of a story we’ve seen before, but it doesn't subvert expectations. But when Matías’s father gets a job offer
This storm sequence is the emotional climax of the film. Trapped, dripping wet, and forced into close quarters, the armor Matías has worn for fifteen years finally cracks. The dialogue is sparse. They don't confess "I love you" in dramatic terms. Instead, Matías admits, "I’ve thought about you. A lot." It is a whisper, but it hits like a scream. When they finally come together, it isn't a sex scene designed for titillation; it is a desperate act of excavation—digging up a relic that was buried alive.
Esteros (2016) is a highly-regarded Argentine film directed by Papu Curotto, described by reviewers as a solid romance that balances beauty with an innocent yet powerful romantic narrative. PopMatters The story explores: First Love & Identity