“When your childhood best friend lies next to you in bed… and you know you love him — and know he might never understand how.”
This isn’t a line from The Astronaut Lovers, the latest film by Argentine filmmaker Marco Berger. Rather, it’s the lingering feeling the film leaves behind — quiet, poignant, and difficult to name.
On the surface, the storyline is straightforward. Pedro, a reserved young man, returns to Argentina from Spain to spend the summer at his family’s seaside home. There, he reconnects with Maxi, a friend from his youth. But as the temperature rises, so do long-buried emotions, prompting that familiar, unspoken question: “What if…?”
Pedro – Emotion in Silence
Pedro is not one to speak loudly or often. He moves through the narrative gently, like a whisper — always present, quietly observing, carrying a storm of emotions just beneath the surface. He understands his own feelings, but he remains unsure whether he’s allowed to voice them.
His silence is not a void but a muted intensity. Each pause, each fleeting glance, reveals more than words ever could. The audience is drawn in as silent witnesses to his internal world.
Maxi – Conflicted and Charismatic
Maxi serves as the emotional anchor of the film. He’s charismatic, light-hearted, and outwardly straight — yet his lingering looks and charged interactions suggest deeper complexity.
His playful language often conceals emotional depth. When he casually asks,
“Would it bother you if I slept next to you?”
it’s not about comfort — it’s a veiled exploration, a flirt disguised as innocence.
Maxi may not fully understand what he desires, but he knows he enjoys being desired.
The First Night – A Scene of Unspoken Yearning
Their first night sharing a bed unfolds without physical contact, but the emotional weight is immense.
Pedro remains still. Maxi glances over. Their restrained movements intensify the tension until it nearly ruptures the screen.
The scene isn’t about touch — it’s about the powerful anticipation of it.
When Silence Gives Way to Truth
Eventually, the unspoken becomes too heavy, and Pedro utters the words:
“I’ve always had feelings for you.”
There is no demand or expectation in his voice. Just release — an honest moment that seeks recognition, not reciprocation.
Maxi doesn’t reply right away. Of course he doesn’t. Sometimes truth arrives before we’re ready to receive it.
Marco Berger’s Subtle Direction
Berger doesn’t merely direct films — he evokes them.
His stories are not just queer — they are deeply human, nuanced, and emotionally authentic.
The Astronaut Lovers is a slow, delicate tale filled with long silences, meaningful glances, and dialogue that speaks louder through what is left unsaid.
A Final Reflection
This is not a film strictly about love.
It is about proximity that stings, about revolving around someone you cannot reach.
As the credits roll, you may find yourself unsure whether to cry, call someone you once knew, or sit in stillness with the ache it leaves behind.
The Astronaut Lovers isn’t truly about astronauts.
It’s about the rest of us — still trying to land without shattering.
Best suited for:
– Fans of slow-burning queer cinema
– Viewers who find beauty in emotional restraint
– Anyone who’s loved in silence, or loved someone they could never fully reach
