1977 Spanish film
| Los Placeres ocultos |
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 Theatrical release poster |
| Directed by | Eloy de la Iglesia |
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| Written by | Eloy de la Iglesia
Rafael Sánchez Campoy
Gonzalo Goicoechea |
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| Produced by | Alborada P.C. |
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| Starring | Simón Andreu
Charo López
Tony Fuentes |
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| Cinematography | Carlos Suárez |
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| Edited by | José Luis Matesanz |
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| Music by | Carmelo A. Bernaola |
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| Distributed by | FILM BANDERA S.A. |
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Release date | 14 April 1977 |
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Running time | 95 mins. |
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| Country | Spain |
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| Language | Spanish |
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Hidden Pleasures (Spanish: Los placeres ocultos) is a 1977 drama film, directed by Eloy de la Iglesia, and written by de la Iglesia, Rafael Sánchez Campoy and Gonzalo Goicoechea.It stars Simón Andreu
Charo López and Tony Fuentes.
The plot follows a middle-aged, closeted homosexual banker from a wealthy family, who falls in love with a much younger heterosexual man. Los placeres ocultos is notable for being the first extended representation of gay men in Spanish cinema.[1]
Plot
Eduardo, a well off bank manager in his forties, is a sophisticated closeted homosexual. He keeps his sexual life a secret, but he uses his social and economic position to win over young men.
Driving his car he meets on the streets, Miguel, an attractive young man from a humble background and falls in love with him. Then Eduardo starts his usual plan to approach men. Through Nes, a gay man who lives in Miguel's neighborhood, Eduardo finds out Miguel's address and offers him a job in the company run by his friend Raul. Raul and Eduardo had a relationship in the past and Raul is still secretly in love with Eduardo. With the excuse of helping him typing a book Eduardo takes Miguel to his apartment every afternoon. To gain his friendship Eduardo buys him a motorcycle. Miguel, however is heterosexual, and not only has a steady girlfriend but he is also entangled in a sexual affair with Rosa, an older married neighbor. When Eduardo tells his felling to his new friend, Miguel rejects him.
Eduardo returns to his solitary life looking for fleeting pleasures with young men in cruising spots:cinemas, parks and public toilets. He rejects the offer of his friend Raul to be involved in the emerging gay movement. Then Eduardo's aged mother becomes terminally ill and in her deathbed, she confesses that she had known he was gay since he was a teenager. She urges him not to be alone.
In one of his escapes cruising in the park Eduardo meets Nes again. Nes and members of his gang go to Eduardo's apartment rob him and beat him him. When Miguel finds out what had happened, he worries about Eduardo and beats Nes in revenge. As a result, Eduardo and Miguel resume their friendship, this time without they accept each other and Eduardo respects that Miguel is straight. Miguel introduces his girlfriend Carmen to Eduardo and the trio establish a close relationship. For Eduardo the company of the young couple fills the void of a family life and loneliness.
The close friendship between Eduardo and the couple formed by Miguel and Carmen is abruptly truncated by Rosa's reappearance. Rosa, angry because she was jilted by Miguel maliciously, begin to spread the rumors that he is gay. She talks to Carmen's father and as a consequence he forbids his daughter to see Miguel again. Miguel becomes very upset with the lost of his girlfriend, blaming his closeness to Eduardo for it. Hurt and enraged, Miguel goes to the bank where Eduardo works and makes a terrible scene, shouting, insulting, and reveling Eduardo's homosexuality to all.
In the last scene Eduardo is alone in his apartment and hears the rings of the doorbell. He looks through the peephole and his face lights up with joy. When the door is ajar the film ends without seeing the visitor.
Reception
With its thematic enter on homosexuality, Los placeres ocultos was highly controversial.[2] Initially banned by the Spanish censors, critics gave the film relatively kind reviews because they of Franco. opposed the continuing of censorship one year after the death of Franco. The review in El Pueblo stated the film treats the "sad problem of homosexuality, but with Little scandal".[2]
