 
Don't Tell Anyone
Average Rating: 4.0 Total Reviews: 17
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 On: 2006-06-07
In the Peruvian film, "Dont Tell Anyone" Joaquin Camino (Santiago Magill) doesnt exactly fit his fathers notions of masculinity, so his father drags the teenager off on a day trip designed to bring out his sons inner brute. Its a sad commentary that being a man is supposed to be about shooting, killing and brutalizing, but thats exactly what Joaquins dad thinks. The trip is a disaster--Joaquin is paired off with a handymans Indian son, and while theyre supposed to be hunting, Joaquins advances towards the other man are rebuffed in horror. But all this escapes the notice of Joaquins father; they return to the city, and in his fathers eyes at least, Joaquins day somehow serves as a rite of passage into manhood.
Joaquin then goes to university where he meets fellow student Alejandra (Lucia Jimenez). While Joaquins religious, protective mother is delighted to see her son involved with a girl from a good family, the relationship is fraught with problems. He meets Gonzalo (Christian Meier), the fiance of Alejandras best friend, and they begin a secret relationship. Gonzalo argues that he loves his fiancee and intends to get married, and he seems to find it perfectly normal to live this double life with Joaquin on the side.
Joaquin tries to come to terms with Peruvian societys attitude towards homosexuality. His male friends accept these secret relationships between males that are coupled with marriage to acceptable, desirable woman and also contrasted to violent, public homophobia. Joaquin, unable to juggle all these opposing moralities, finally leaves Peru and dives into Miamis seamy side.
The film addresses many of the hypocrisies associated with Peruvian societys attitude towards homosexuality, and also ties in this attitude with prevalent racist attitudes towards the Indian population. However, Joaquin is not a particularly sympathetic character, and ultimately the films conclusion seems ambiguous. From director Francisco J. Lombardi, the film "Dont Tell Anyone" is in Spanish with English subtitles--displacedhuman
by: gradyharp On: 2005-12-20
No Se Lo Digas A Nadie (Dont Tell Anyone) is probably a good PR line for this little film trying to be something grand. In excess of two hours director Francisco J. Lombardi makes an attempt to bring to life the autobiography of gay Peruvian talk show host Jaime Bayly and to explore the angst of teenagers and college students finding their way into the adult world. What results is a soap opera treatment that wades around in a lot of self-pity and wrong choices.
Joaquin Camino (Santiago Magill) struggles as a child with his terrible secret of attraction to boys in a home atmosphere of a macho homophobic father and a religious zealot mother. He tries girls, even a graduation gift prostitute compliments of his father, but he is unable to be a man and after high school runs away from home. In college he mixes with the marijuana and cocaine crowd, unsuccessfully attempts physical affection for his girlfriend Alejandra (LucÃa Jiménez) but eventually falls in love with a closet case to end all closet cases Gonzalo (Christian Meier) who runs when Joaquin makes it clear he is available for a relationship. This is the manner of the tale which eventually resolves in demonstrating how many young people hide their true identities behind alcohol and drugs and the fast life: the story as expected has no real ending because of the lack of ultimate character definition.
The cast is fairly strong, especially Santiago Magill, and they try to make the best of a thin script. Production values fit the mood of the film and there are some fine little moments that justify watching it. In the long run the movie seems to be afraid to offend anyone and that fear keeps it from being bold enough to make a clear statement about human sexuality. Perhaps this is because the film it is from a Latin American culture (Peru), but basically it is a lost opportunity. Grady Harp, December 05
On: 2004-06-26
Aunque casi llegando a la pornografÃa, las actuaciones de Santiago Magill y Christian Meier son magnificas y bastante creibles.
La adaptacion propiamente de la novela de Jaime Bayly es un poco exagerada, pero creo que conserva la esencia de la narración.
Esta pelÃcula muestra como la intolerencia y la ignorancia puede influir en una vida desordenada de homosexualidad, drogas y perversion.
Al final no deja ninguna leccion clara, pero en resumen es una pelicula muy entretenida.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-05-23
Im not going to write a complete review of this DVD, the previous reviews already give a lot of information. Joaquin, the main character of this movie, is bisexual but with a preference for men. Then why is it that his first heterosexual encounter with a woman is shown quite explicitely, and his first homosexual encounter with a man is hardly shown at all? And this happens more often in this movie. Dont get me wrong, Im not asking for a gay porn movie. However when the main character of a movie is predominantly gay, then it is a bit silly if his gay encounters are hardly shown at all, and his heterosexual encounters are shown lengthy and explicitely. The love scenes are important for the movie, but then homosexual encounters and heterosexual encounters should have been shown with equal explicity. The movie now feels rather unbalanced in this respect, and makes it much more difficult to understand the feelings of Joaquin.
On: 2004-05-22
DONT TELL ANYONE [No se lo Digas a Nadie] (Peru/Spain 1998): An unhappy young Peruvian man (Santiago Magill) clashes with his affluent, god-fearing parents as he struggles to come to terms with his attraction to other men in a country steeped in hypocrisy and prejudice.An understanding of the macho culture which underpins Peruvian society is a prerequisite for viewers of Francisco J. Lombardis DONT TELL ANYONE, an apparently sanitized version of the bestselling book by chat show host Jaime Bayly. Hot young TV star Santiago Magill (The Most Beautiful Man In The World - official!) plays the central character as a deeply confused individual who wants to conform but is unable to deny his true sexuality, despite the attentions of a sympathetic girlfriend (Lucia Jimenez) who believes she can make him normal again. Inevitably, Magill goes off the rails and forfeits his education before descending into coke-fuelled abandon and fleeing to Miami. Unable to escape his past, hes forced to compromise the very essence of his humanity... Lombardis cheerless film shakes an angry fist at the influence of religious doctrine in Peru (revealed here as a sham) and the racism suffered by the countrys native Indian population, an anger shared by the movies principal character, who rails against the very same bigotry and oppression which stifles his freedom at every turn. His slide into rebellion makes for uncomfortable viewing (Magill gives a powerhouse performance as the delicate, pretty-boy waif who gravitates toward anarchy and emerges a strong - though embittered - survivor), but its also faintly predictable, given the terrible circumstances under which he is forced to exist. Magill is pleasingly nude in a number of scenes, though gay viewers may be alarmed by the emphasis placed on his relationship with Jimenez, who thinks hes merely suffering a trauma and can be cured by having sex with a woman (its no surprise to learn that director Lombardi is straight), while his relationships with men are depicted as fragile and fleeting, primarily because his male partners are under the same societal pressures as himself. Unable to indulge his true sexuality, Magills character seems doomed to a life of unhappiness and deceit, an approach which distinguishes the film from its feel-good American counterparts. Technical credits are polished, and the cast is exemplary, but its hard to enjoy this bleak little movie, and even harder to dismiss it. The DVD from Picture This! is fair enough, though this is yet another gay movie whose theatrical Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack has been downmixed to 2.0 surround for its US disc release. Picture quality may suffer on larger monitors and colors are a little heavy (which may have been part of the films original color scheme), but its generally OK. A trailer for this film is included, along with previews for other gay-themed movies from Picture This! The 114 minute running time quoted on the packaging is a mistake. 108m 28s
1.85:1 / Letterboxed
DVD soundtrack: Stereo surround 2.0
Theatrical soundtrack: Dolby Digital
Spanish with optional English subtitles
All regions
On: 2004-05-21
DONT TELL ANYONE (No se lo Digas a Nadie, 1998)
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
DVD soundtrack: Dolby 2.0 stereo
Theatrical soundtrack: Dolby Digital
An unhappy young Peruvian man (Santiago Magill) clashes with his affluent, god-fearing parents as he struggles to come to terms with his attraction to other men in a country steeped in hypocrisy and prejudice.
An understanding of the macho culture which underpins Peruvian society is a prerequisite for viewers of Francisco J. Lombardis DONT TELL ANYONE, an apparently sanitized version of the bestselling book by chat show host Jaime Bayly. Hot young TV star Santiago Magill (The Most Beautiful Man In The World - official!) plays the central character as a deeply confused individual who wants to conform but is unable to deny his true sexuality, despite the attentions of a sympathetic girlfriend (Lucia Jimenez) who believes she can make him normal again. Inevitably, Magill goes off the rails and forfeits his education before descending into coke-fuelled abandon and fleeing to Miami. Unable to escape his past, hes forced to compromise the very essence of his humanity...
Lombardis cheerless film shakes an angry fist at the influence of religious doctrine in Peru (revealed here as a sham) and the racism suffered by the countrys native Indian population, an anger shared by the movies principal character, who rails against the very same bigotry and oppression which stifles his freedom at every turn. His slide into rebellion makes for uncomfortable viewing (Magill gives a powerhouse performance as the delicate, pretty-boy waif who gravitates toward anarchy and emerges a strong - though embittered - survivor), but its also faintly predictable, given the terrible circumstances under which he is forced to exist.
Magill is pleasingly nude in a number of scenes, though gay viewers may be alarmed by the emphasis placed on his relationship with Jimenez, who thinks hes merely suffering a trauma and can be cured by having sex with a woman (its no surprise to learn that director Lombardi is straight), while his relationships with men are depicted as fragile and fleeting, primarily because his male partners are under the same societal pressures as himself. Unable to indulge his true sexuality, Magills character seems doomed to a life of unhappiness and deceit, an approach which distinguishes the film from its feel-good American counterparts. Technical credits are polished, and the cast is exemplary, but its hard to enjoy this bleak little movie, and even harder to dismiss it.
On: 2004-05-01
I endorse Timothy Halkins comments, currently in the Spotlight."Dont Tell Anyone" focuses on Joaquin Camino (well played by Santiago Magill), a young gay Peruvian from a good family, who is trying to get established as an adult. The society as a whole is conservative, with strong family values and Catholic morals. Joaquin has two relationships with men, Gonzalo (played by Christian Meier) and Alfonso Cordoba (played by Giovanni Ciccia), who are both comfortably bisexual. They will each marry and have supplemental same-sex dalliances. Joaquin wants his relationships uncluttered with wives and girlfriends, outs himself to his parents, and tells Gonzalos fiancee about the same-sex relationship. When a crisis emerges, Joaquin flees to Miami and lives there a year. We dont see Joaquin trying to meet a kindred spirit. Its just backrooms, tricks, and his cute bisexual roommate, who wants a wife. Joaquins English is all right, and he is handsome. I just wonder why he didnt try harder to be in a relationship with a fully gay man. Joaquins girl-friend Alejandra (played by Lucia Jimenez) gets him to return to Lima, where he graduates from a university. She has some idea of what is happening, but thinks she can help or cure him. At graduation, both Alfonso Cordoba amd Gonzalo advocate traditional marriage, with boyfriends on the side. It is a possibility that Joaquin might go along with this plan since the only alternative seems to be bachelorhood. A different way of looking at this movie is to note how unconflicted the bisexuals seem to be. Societies that are very rigid and universal in marriage practices or that frequently use arranged marriages tend to wink at adultery, knowing that the marriages themselves are semi-coerced. This opens a window for bisexuality in Peru that is not acceptable in differently-Puritanical America, where people are expected to marry for love, not convenience. Politics in the USA have carved out room for straights and for gays. (Joaquin should have done well here.) There are no institutions, programs, or real tolerance for bisexuality, even though more people are bi than gay. Bisexuals are to pick one sex and stick with it, at least serially. The movie shows a Latin American approach. Does the USA really have anything better?
by: Anonymous On: 2003-11-20
For some reason, I feel it a need to rent all gay themed movies. You know what? I am almost always disappointed.
This movie proved to be an exception. Although in spanish with subtitles, it was easy to follow, had an incredibled script (although it was was somewhat depressing), and the lead actor , Santiago Magill is someone who would have a great future. This movie, seemed to fly by. It had an incredible soundtrack, scenery,
and cast. I cannot recommended this as one of 2 gay themed movies that I have seen (not done yet), that i would recommend. The other would be, In the flesh (weak in some aspects, but beautifully directed, and great score).
On: 2003-05-25
"Dont Tell Anyone," directed by Francisco J. Lombardi, tells the story of Joaquin (played by Santiago Magill), a young Peruvian man who is struggling with feelings of attraction towards other males. He is torn between the macho ethics of his racist, womanizing father and the bleeding-heart religiosity of his mother. But a series of relationships and experiences he has while attending college profoundly impact his life."Dont Tell" is an absolutely gripping and fascinating film. The film is mainly in Spanish with English subtitles. Woven into Joaquins story are many issues: ethnic difference, class stratification, homophobia, parent-child relationships, etc. Particularly interesting is the films treatment of recreational drug use--there are many shocking scenes of drug use (or abuse) throughout the film, and ultimately if there is a "message" about drug use that message is quite ambiguous. Magill is excellent in the lead role. His character really dominates the film, and Magill is by turns playful, passionate, tortured, explosive, and serene. The supporting cast is also quite impressive; Lucia Jiminez is particularly appealing as a female classmate who takes a liking to Joaquin. In the end, the filmmakers have perhaps bitten off more social issues than they can fully address, but overall the film has an effective symmetry and moves to an open-ended but satisfying conclusion. Gritty, sexy, and sweaty, "Dont Tell" is an enjoyable and thought-provoking film.
On: 2002-10-19
I WATCHED THIS FILM AFTER HAVING READ THE NOVEL EXPECTING IT TO HAVE LESS "BLACK HOLES" THAN THE NOVEL DID & IT TURNED OUT TO BE A WASTE OF TIME. I DISLIKED THE FACT THAT THE MAIN CHARACTER NEVER ATTAINED THE COURAGE TO STAND UP TO HIS IGNORANT, MISOGYNISTIC, & EXTREMELY HOMOPHOBIC FATHER. AT FIRST I FELT COMPASSION FOR JOAQUIN BUT AS THE STORY PROGRESSED I BEGAN TO ABHOR HIM FOR HIS LACK OF CHARACTER & SELF-ESTEEM. I COULD WRITE A BOOK ON WHY I DISLIKED THE NOVEL/FILM BUT ILL SETTLE FOR REJOICING IN THE FACT THAT ALTHOUGH I HAD A SIMILAR CHILDHOOD I DIDNT TURN OUT LIKE POOR JOAQUIN. LUCKY ME!
by: longshotex On: 2002-04-04
Why is it movies about homosexuality always involve a large amount of drugs? I liked the way this movie started out with him young and living at home. But as soon as he goes off to college it goes downhill from there. He turns into a drug addicted drunk who will lead a girl on into thinking he will marry her and then dump her as soon as he thinks he has a boyfriend. And then he ruins the life of his lover by telling his fiancee that they have been sleeping together. In the end he gets back together with his girlfriend. It looks like theyre going to get married soon. But then his lover comes back and it looks like hes ready to dump the girl for a second time. The guy is a jerk.
On: 2002-03-24
People like myself, who have spent their lives in fairly open and liberal environments, might have trouble with the ultimate statement of this film. It seems to be saying: if you cant beat them, join them. We observe in this film a young Peruvians, Joaquin, struggle through his youth and adolescence with the knowledge that he is gay in a society that is both too macho and Catholic to tolerate alternative lifestyles - not to mention his family, which represents this society in microcosm. (Possibly his fathers Hitler moustache is a tick over-the-top!) As a college freshman, he makes a desperate attempt with a nice, but highly naïve, girl to be "normal". He explains his problem to her, and she believes in her naiveté that she can cure him. Joaquin falls, however, madly in love and has an affair with Gonzalo, the fiancé of his girlfriends best friend. Gonzalo is shock when Joaquin breaks off with his girlfriend out of love for him. Gonzalo explains that leading an openly gay life in Peru is not a viable option for him; he suggests that Joaquin come to his senses - meaning he should get back with his girlfriend, marry her even (as he intends to do with his), so they can go back to having their affair on the side without problems. Botching it up with Gonzalo by telling his fiancé of their affair, he quits school and goes on a drug and alcohol binge with his queer-bashing schoolmate, Alfonzo. Well, wonders never cease - Alfonzo has the hots for him and they sleep together. When asked why he beats up on gays in the park, he explains because theyre queers, not like them - respectable people, who will marry, have kids and screw with men on the side. Alfonzo seems to have ODed on their wild drug binge, and Joaquin, terrified, runs off to America, hoping to leave this whole mess behind him and finally be able to find some happiness in life. He ends up dog-sitting in an attempt to make enough money to stay off the street as a hustler. In the end, he hates his life in Miami and returns to both his country and his girlfriend (whos still naïve enough to believe she can change him). He meets up first with Alfonzo (no, he didnt die), who is now married with a kid on the way (we can sense, however, what hes doing on the side) and with Gonzalo, who - despite the fact that he did not marry - claims to have not changed his opinion. In the end, its clear that Joaquin will also marry, but have his "desert" on the side. At first, I was somewhat shocked by this, but then again, Ive never had to live under such oppression. Im assuming that many in North America and most European countries will have trouble identifying with this film, even find its characters somewhat despicable. It almost seems to be a glory hymn to bi-sexuality. On second thought, I felt like I should cut it some slack, though. Regardless of what you ultimately think about the films message, it is well written, directed and acted...
by: yllaril On: 2001-11-11
I went to see this film in Lima, I read the book a year before the release of the movie. I really enjoyed it, is a very good film from one of the best peruviand directors. The story of a "in the closet" young boy, his struggles to try to be himself, find his sexuality in a society like Lima, where apparences are everything. Diego Maguill and Christian Meier, have a credible role, although the sex scenes are not so explicit, believe it or not they are for peruvian audiences. The only one that cant really be credible is that spanish actress, Ms. Jimenez, she really tries, but every peruvian knows she doesnt sound like a "pituca limeña". The songs are part of the story and I enjoyed every single one of them, specially the last one. I really recommend it.
On: 2001-09-21
Im not sure if the book is available in English, but Spanish speakers may want to check out the novel as well. Highly praised by fellow Peruvian writer, Vargas LLosa, the novels main character, Joaquin, is not quite as "nice" as hes made out to be in the film. Hes almost an anti-hero. I guess I was expecting the same snobby, racist character of the novel, hence my 3 stars. The acting was good, although the gay scenes werent as "explicit" as the hetero ones. Still, a pretty brave film in a homophobic world. See it.
On: 2001-08-23
For much of the 1990s, there have been numerous attempts by Hollywood and MTV to capture the thoughts and feelings felt by a gay man without much avail. "Dont Tell Anyone" succeeded. As I skeptically watched the film, it not only made me feel "normal", but it also defined some of the comon trials and tribulations that the average homosexual male must overcome in the path called life. Where many movies have failed before, "Dont Tell Anyone" has succeeded. I strongly recommend the film and I hope the next person enjoys the feeling as I did.
On: 2001-06-13
Like the Australian film HEAD ON, this is about a young man at odds with his family and the male tradition of machismo. The young men of both films have a somewhat girlfriend who is the woman they will likely marry, and also an abusive father, one who lives by a very strict code of what a man is and what he should be doing. The young man in this film decides to break loose from the shackles of tradition and his family by declaring his homosexuality and living openly as a gay man. The impetus for doing so is a love affair with another man who is in a likewise predicament of girlfriend followed by marriage to be followed by doing what you really want, but on the side. The situations have an in-bred irony because of the sense of "whatever goes around, comes around." For those shy of drug use, there is regular ingestions of cocaine and marijuana. For those shy of nudity, there is both male and female, though no explicit sex scenes. Overall, considering what both films have in common, a young mans coming of age and coming out, heavy drug use as well as nudity, the film HEAD ON is sexier though hard-edged fun. DONT TELL ANYONE is lighter fare, easier on the sensibilities. The only extras on the DVD are a gallery (still photos) and an assortment of trailers, though the only trailer for this film included is the Spanish one, not the one designed for non-Spanish speaking audiences which can be located on other DVDs.
by: Anonymous On: 2001-02-23
This is a stunning film from Perú about being different in a stifling, conservative society where appearances are everything and honesty is not an option. Caught between an overbearing, racist father (racial tolerance still has a long ways to go in these parts) and an obviously repressed, pious mother, a well to do young man must come to grips with his real self encountering hypocrisy both in the straight and gay world. Unfolding with a gift for storytelling and a dash of wit, this film is a candidate as permanent fixture in the gay or human rights wing of any dvd collection. The transfer is tack-sharp and the colors vivid; the sound is excellent. Some might quibble that such a hadsome, personable and bilingual young man might connect with the gay community in South Beach, where he goes to live for a spell, managing to get work at a mens clothing boutique, or disco, or whatever, instead of being reduced to walking dogs for rich folks and hustling on the side, but then the filmmaker would have had to scuttle his deliciously sardonic (and sad) final wedding shot that ends the film. Dont hesitate, get this one!
by: Anonymous On: 2001-01-28
First I read the book. Then I saw the movie. I was very pleased by the result of the movie. It shows how being gay in Latin American countries really is. It shows how society behaves when dealing with homosexuality issues. Being gay and from Mexico I felt really identified by this movie. I really liked it for being real. I didnt give it 5 stars, because I bought the DVD edition, and they dont take advantage of this technology, they dont add interviews or comentaries of the director, produces or actors. But the movie, its very honest and real, and Santiago Magill -the main character- is really cute ;-) Ah! and the movie shows nudity.
On: 2000-04-22
"Dont tell Anyone," or "No Se Lo Digas a Nadie," is great, scrappy little Peruvian movie that was a big hit last year at the Latino Film Festival in Chicago. It dont think it was ever widely released here in the states but its a movie thats definitely worth checking out.Its a coming-of-age story about a young man who is struggling with his sexual identity amidsts the often glitzy and decadent club scene of Lima, Peru. What really makes this movie special and sets it apart from most American "gay" movies is the fact that it is utterly honest, it never tries to oversimplify this mans relationships. Maybe whats really refreshing is that its wise enough to know that the truth about human sexuality does not lie in extremes, that someone should be "gay" or "straight." Its a gay movie that is subversive for not dogmatically celebrating the gay lifestyle as the end all and be all of homosexuality.
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