Film festival favorite (and award-winner)
“The Strong Ones” (Breaking Glass Pictures) continues a new wave of Chilean cinema that forthrightly and empathetically explores LGBTQ themes. In Omar Zúñiga Hidalgo’s smart and sexy debut feature, the romance between grad student Lucas (Samuel González) and fisherman Antonio (Antonio Altamirano) unfolds with ardor and passion, but the film never shies away from exploring the class disparity between the two characters or the assumptions that each might make about the other.
Also available: Shot in Cuba, the based-on-a-true-story drama
“Mambo Man” (Corinth Films) features musical performances by several members of the Buena Vista Social Club; when a talented pianist gives birth to a deaf son in
February 14, 2021
As Valentine’s Day arrives, candy aisles are flooded with heart-shaped chocolates and love songs permeate on the radio. There are countless romantic comedies and epic love stories for those who just want to indulge in the excitement of the day, but what about those who want to do anything but celebrate romance?
While action or horror is always a safe option, some movies more directly oppose the spirit of the romance-focused holiday, exploring the problems with love and relationships. Whether you’re seeking catharsis for a Valentine’s Day spent single or merely wish to offset the overwhelming atmosphere of the day, these ten movies are an ideal antithesis to the saccharine.
Jeremy Jordan (Getty Images)
Jeremy Jordan who plays twins Josh and Julian in Mix Up in the Mediterranean recently starred opposite Kerry Washington in the play American Son and then reprised his role in the Netflix film adaptation of the show. He will also soon play the lead role as seminal record producer Neil Bogart in the feature Spinning Gold . His other films include The Last 5 Years opposite Anna Kendrick, Joyful Noise with Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton, and Newsies . His TV work includes series regulars on The CW’s Supergirl , NBC’s Smash and Disney Channel’s Tangled .
Jessica Lowndes as Meg
However Mix Up in the Mediterranean will feature the channel s first-ever lead gay character. Mix Up in the Mediterranean was shot entirely in Malta and it centers around the mix-up that occurs when a small-town cook impersonates his twin, a big-city chef at a culinary competition. He then ends up falling in love with the woman who is in charge of the competition, who thinks he is his twin, who is gay and happily married. Mix Up in the Mediterranean is part of Hallmark s Love Ever After programming event.
Release date Mix Up in the Mediterranean premieres on Saturday, February 20, at 9 pm ET/PT on the Hallmark Channel.