The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo

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The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo

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1h 44m

Drama

LGBTQ+

Romance

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95%

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44 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

In the early 80's, in the Chilean desert, eleven-year-old Lidia grows up in a loving queer family pushed on the edge of an unwelcoming dusty mining town. They are blamed for a mysterious illness that's starting to spread -- said to be passed through a single gaze, when one man falls in love with another. In this modern western, Lidia leads a quest for vengeance, facing violence, fear and hatred, where family is her only refuge and love might be the real danger.

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Critics Consensus

The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo uses rich magical realism and vividly realized characters to poetically explore queer resistance, found family, and the power of empathy over fear.

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Tara Brady

Irish Times

May 15, 2026

4/5

What makes Céspedes’s film striking is not its allegory but its atmosphere and child-centric perspective.

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Cath Clarke

Guardian

May 12, 2026

4/5

A touching and moving film.

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Chase Hutchinson

Seattle Times

Feb 5, 2026

3/4

"The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo," the fascinating feature debut from writer-director Diego Céspedes, is a film of painfully bittersweet, enduringly beautiful joys.

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Brian Orndorf

Blu-ray.com

May 8, 2026

B

Tends to wander as Cespedes works through atmosphere and relationships, but he's committed to a core understanding of human connection during a time of great uncertainty.

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Jaylan Salah

Geek Vibes Nation

Feb 19, 2026

6.5/10

This feature is tense, gripping, poetic, and flamboyant, like the dark passenger to Pedro Almodóvar’s queerverse. It’s not one we are used to watching, now with more positive, thankfully, queer narratives dominating the movie scene.

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Joseph DEE CORLEONE

Dec 14, 2025

Diego Cespedes' debut is passionate, funny, gentle and a bit transgressive. Very well done beautiful cinematography with Wonderful Characters.

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Cris P

@KrisePotato Aug 16, 2026

En los cerros del norte de Chile, emerge un universo vibrante y diverso. Las comunidades queer tejen sus historias con resiliencia y orgullo. A través de expresiones artísticas y sociales, se forja un espacio de pertenencia. Sus vivencias enriquecen el tapiz cultural de la región. Es un reflejo auténtico de la pluralidad humana en este paisaje singular.

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Martin F

@manekenthe Jun 7, 2026

they were afraid of the gaze and the gaze was just love

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Carlos C

@CarlosC19 May 31, 2026

Emotiva, queer y profundamente sensible. Con una propuesta muy íntima y profundamente chilena, la película construye una historia delicada y poderosa sobre las familias que elegimos: esas que te cuidan, te acompañan y te acogen cuando el mundo parece demasiado hostil. La película también nos transporta a una época en la que aún había mucho desconocimiento sobre el VIH, mostrando los mitos, miedos y prejuicios que rodeaban la enfermedad. Lo hace desde un lugar que mezcla lo crudo con lo humano, evidenciando lo injusto y doloroso de esos estigmas. Destacan la dirección, el casting y las interpretaciones que sostienen toda la emoción de la película.El talento de Lidia es impresionante, y junto a Paula Dinamarca y Matías Catalán construyen escenas profundamente conmovedoras. Es una película que te llena el alma, te emociona y te invita a reflexionar sobre el amor, la identidad y las familias que se construyen desde el cariño y la resistencia.

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Laura S

@RT22254809 Mar 20, 2026

This is a beautiful film, I fell in love with all the characters, unique, brilliant

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Christian M

@chriss17eu Feb 24, 2026

It has its moments. Diego Céspedes’ feature debut is a strange, uneven experience—sometimes fascinating, sometimes hard to follow. The 4:3 cinematography is gorgeous, with compositions, colors, and lighting that turn simple scenes into contemplative paintings. Music is subtle, reinforcing the film’s sensory, atmospheric focus. The narrative feels abstract, leaving questions about its central ideas unresolved, though reflection afterward helps. The treatment of queer characters is compelling: discrimination and fear are shown subtly, emphasizing societal prejudice. Tamara Cortés shows real potential; the rest of the cast supports the story without standing out. The last half hour drags, and I disengage. Overall, it’s visually and thematically interesting, but the uneven flow prevents full immersion or lasting impact.

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Diego Céspedes

Director

Tamara Cortés

Actor

Matías Catalán

Actor

Paula Dinamarca

Actor

Claudia Cabezas

Actor

Luis Dubó

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Synopsis

In the early 80's, in the Chilean desert, eleven-year-old Lidia grows up in a loving queer family pushed on the edge of an unwelcoming dusty mining town. They are blamed for a mysterious illness that's starting to spread -- said to be passed through a single gaze, when one man falls in love with another. In this modern western, Lidia leads a quest for vengeance, facing violence, fear and hatred, where family is her only refuge and love might be the real danger.

Director: Diego Céspedes
Producer: Giancarlo Nasi, Justin Pechberty
Screenwriter: Diego Céspedes
Distributor: Altered Innocence
Production Co: Don Quijote Films, Les Valseurs, Weydemann Bros. Film, Irusoin, Wrong Men
Genre: Drama, LGBTQ+, Romance
Original Language: Spanish
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 12, 2025, Limited
Runtime: 1h 44m

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