Cinema Q: Mala Noche

USA, 1985, 78 Minute Running Time
Genre/Subjects: Archival, Coming of Age, Cult, Gay/Lesbian, Romance
Language: English

The first feature from acclaimed director Gus Van Sant (Drugstore Cowboy, Last Days), Mala Noche is a hauntingly beautiful black-and-white meditation on lust, love, obsession, and class. Stuck behind the cash register of a convenience store in Portland’s skid row, young-ish Walt (Tim Streeter) becomes infatuated with Johnny (Doug Cooeyate), a Mexican teenager and illegal immigrant who is willing to reciprocate Walt’s attentions – to a point. Although Walt subsequently turns to Johnny’s friend Pepper (Ray Monge), he is unable to shake his fixation, and finds his crush becoming an all-consuming amour fou.

DIRECTOR: Gus Van Sant
Producer: Gus Van Sant
Editor: Gus Van Sant, Dave Ling
Screenwriter: Walt Curtis (novel), Gus Van Sant
Cinematographer: John J. Campbell
Music: Peter Dammann, Karen Kitchen, Creighton Lindsay
Principal Cast: Tim Streeter, Doug Cooeyate
Filmography: Drugstore Cowboy, My Own Private Idaho, Good Will Hunting, Finding Forrester, Elephant, Last Days
US Distributor: Janus Films