Avid readers may recognize the name Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universe. Playing at TIFF in the Discovery section this year, the film was one of the festival’s most exciting acquisition titles thanks to its star-studded cast and popular source material. We were lucky enough to sit down with the film’s writer-director, Aitch Alberto, and its lead actors, Max Pelayo and Reese Gonzales, shortly after the film’s world premiere at the festival.
Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universe is based on an award-winning 2012 young adult book written by Benjamin Alire Sáenz. For writer-director Aitch Alberto, this is her directorial debut, and it comes with a huge responsibility. Adapting a literary work that holds such an important place in the hearts of queer youth was certainly a challenge, but Alberto and co. got into it.
“I feel incredibly honored to have been able to make this film. It’s also a big expiration, because it took me seven years to bring it to the screen. I thought it was like a no-brainer. When I read the book, I was like, ‘There’s no way the rights are available. This is so perfect. And they were available, and I think it was because I was supposed to tell the story with these two handsome boys next to me. So it feels really good. It feels like a time. It feels right and it feels like the perfect time. I think it’s necessary that stories like this- these are told in a real way by people like me – Aitch Alberto
Also Read: Aristotle and Dante Uncover the Secrets of the Universe TIFF Review: A Standard but Attaching Queer Coming of Age Story
Fans would probably think a movie based on one of the most acclaimed young adult books of the last decade would have been made within the studio system, but Alberto made the film as an independent production. While this had its own challenges, it was also extremely rewarding, as it gave him the opportunity to make a film that was true to his vision as a fan of the book.
“Well, it was a movie that no studio would ever have made, especially a few years ago when it was greenlit just because I’m a trans director, and it’s a story about two brunette families with two brown leads. I think Hollywood is run by fear. And when you don’t take the risk, or there’s no one who takes the risk for you to tell the story like that, you’re more reluctant or resistant to write. So I’m really grateful to the people who were pretty fearless. And I also think the involvement of people like Lin-Manuel Miranda, Eugenio Derbez and Eva Longoria validated the story, and their profile really helped us get there. But hadn’t they stepped in? I think we wouldn’t be having that conversation right now, which is very unfortunate. So hopefully that moves the needle to love the next filmmaker behind us and the next story; keep getting more story ires about us exist. – Aitch Alberto
One of the most exciting things about Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universe is its fantastic portrayal of the Latino and LGBTQ communities, but it’s also a coming-of-age tale that feels very universal. For Alberto, this balance between specificity and universality was the key to the film’s success.
“I also wanted to make an all-American story accessible to everyone and not play into the tropes of what we see in most movies about Latinos. It’s not my experience. It’s not Max’s experience, and it’s certainly not Reese’s. Our homes are American and rooted in a culture that is where we come from. But like this [America] it is also where we come from. So it’s duality that can be confusing at times, but embracing it is truly beautiful. We are American, but we also eat mole. – Aitch Alberto
“It leads to a very, very specific legacy that meets somewhere in the middle.” – Max Pelayo
“Of course, and I firmly believe that in specificity is universality. I tried to tell a story that was specific to my experience and what the book was saying and refused to lean into the tropes of what we’ve seen before when it comes to Latin American stories. – Aitch Alberto
Also Read: Bros TIFF Review: A Hilarious and Clever LGBGTQ Romantic Comedy
The film is set in 1987 in El Paso, Texas, and for an independent film, it does an amazing job of bringing audiences back to that time in a way that doesn’t feel cheap or contrived. The film’s soundtrack and costume design are both fantastic and create a fun and immersive atmosphere.
“Yeah, I wanted to keep it as naturalistic as possible. I didn’t want to play with the gimmicks of what we see when it comes to 80s movies, especially when it comes to costumes. I worked with Donna Lisa Gonzalez. She is from Miami, an old friend who is her first attempt and suits this side. She is a stylist. And she just had a real sensibility that I think was totally in line with my vision for the film? This is where it can seem timeless. It could be now, but it’s very specific to what the 80s are. And for the soundtrack, I write music, I love music, I think it’s so important to build a world and to create the texture of the world. So I wanted it to feel like the 80s again, but also to support and enhance Ari’s emotional journey throughout, and how that music changed once Dante came into his life and the influence of that too. The music was great fun to explore and see what it could be. And we also had an incredible musical director. And then our composer is Isabella Summers, who is Florence’s Machine and the Machine. And she’s just an absolute genius. Her arrival on board gave me a gift I never thought I would have. The film was very visual and sweet, but I wanted the music to reflect our emotional journey as well. – Aitch Alberto
For this film to succeed, it depended on a strong chemistry between the two protagonists. However, this is the first major role for Pelayo and Gonzales. Although they are newcomers to the scene, they have managed to achieve something with their roles that is nothing short of extraordinary, cementing their performances among the best at the festival.
“I mean, it was effortless. Max and I hit it off instantly. We immediately connected and resonated with those characters so much that it was almost immediate, that connection. I’m so very grateful and lucky to have had Max by my side and to have Max as my partner through it all. I love it.” –Reese Gonzales
“On their two credits, they really showed up. It’s these characters, on and off screen, and they really trusted each other and me, and in the most beautiful way. They are here forever and will be part of my life in a very special way. – Aitch Alberto
“I will say we had a month between us to be cast and then to start production. I live in Texas, Reese is in California. So we didn’t really work together. So it was kind of us being in the same place on set. And at that time, it was just based on our natural chemistry. And most of it for us was in the script, so we just followed it, everything was planned for us. – Max Pelayo
In addition to Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universe the main rounds of Pelayo and Gonzales, the film features supporting rounds from Latino/a legends like Eva Longoria, Eugenio Derbez, Veronica Falcón and Kevin Alejandro. For the film’s young actors, working with these seasoned legends gave them an exceptional learning opportunity.
“I’ve learned so much from just being able to watch them and work with them and listen to them and their stories and their advice. They’re Titans. Being able to watch them work and just their presence on set, I learned a lot from them.–Reese Gonzales
“Absolutely. It was a very special experience and a feeling in the air because they are actors who have been representing Hispanics in Hollywood for a long time. So for us to be able to work with them on our first big project was incredible. – Max Pelayo
“These are people who paved the way, especially people like Eva and Eugenio who really moved on at a time when there was no place for us, especially as women. Eva as a Latina woman in this industry and all she’s been able to do – it’s truly inspiring. When you meet them and are together in a room, you understand why they could be who they are. The whole energy – especially when Eva was on set – the whole energy of that set changed. And Eugenio, I don’t know where to start. He was simply one of the nicest human beings I have had the pleasure of working with. He was incredibly scared to take on this role, because it was something that people hadn’t seen of him. But he was strong-willed, he took the lead and he trusted me in a real way. And Veronica is just an absolute legend in every way. And Kevin too, and they are legit actors. Just like Marlene Forte, who played Tia Ophelia. I’m just incredibly lucky they’re part of it. – Aitch Alberto
Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universe is a truly special film. It performed to several sold-out crowds of cheering fans at TIFF, leaving audiences around the world clamoring to see the film. Although this is an independent production that is currently looking for distribution, don’t expect it to last long as it will be picked up by a distributor sooner rather than later.
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