Queerguru’s Ris Fatah reviews My Boyfriend (El Fascista.) how politics can ruin your love life

Politics is increasingly polarised these days. Extremist news media, websites, and online social-media and other algorithms feed us what we want to consume – all with the aim of keeping us fearfully engaged for longer and longer, thereby satisfying advertising clients. This has led to an explosion in radical politics, in particular the rise of fanatical right-wing organisations. What should we do when our friends and loved-ones fall prey to the dark side? Italian film-maker Mattias Lintner examines this in his new documentary My Boyfriend, El Fascista. Lintner lives with his boyfriend Sadiel Gonzalez, an idealist Cuban activist, in the beautiful South Tyrol area of the Italian Alps. Gonzalez, now in his twenties, arrived in Italy from Cuba aged 18, and it’s immediately clear that he has elements of PTSD from his life under communist Cuban rule. He’s fiercely against communism, which has radically shaped his politics towards right-wing ideology. Lintner is about ten years older than Gonzalez, is left-wing, and generally more laid-back, thoughtful and accepting about life than Gonzalez.

We join the couple in the run-up to the 2022 Italian election, which saw the victory of far-right candidate Georgia Meloni. Despite her homophobic, anti-immigrant rhetoric, Gonzalez decides to support her campaign, with the misguided view that she will help Cubans against communism. Initially, Lintner reacts to this with gentle bemusement, but, over time, as Gonzalez becomes more and more fanatical in his support for her, and he in turn embraces left-wing campaigns, he realises their different political agendas are driving him and Gonzalez apart. What is going to happen to the couple?

Lintner takes us on an interesting, engaging journey with My Boyfriend, El Fascista. It’s an intimate portrayal of their relationship, with their passionate discussions about politics combined with footage of them relaxing together, travelling, having sex and eating. We share Lintner’s angst as Gonzalez rapidly descends into the web of Meloni’s politicking, and the effect this has on their romance. His filming is very open – fly-on-the wall, warts ‘n’ all. His patience with Gonzalez, who is very much like an excited puppy, is inspiring. Gonzalez just does not stop going on about politics, even to a disinterested Grindr hook-up when the couple have a post-coital breakfast with him. Beautiful Italian alpine shots combine with their travels to Venice, Berlin, Cuba and Miami as the couple simultaneously navigate their politics and their relationship. Light-hearted moments break up the heavier subject matter. Thoughtful and pragmatic film-making, with the main take-away being that hate doesn’t bring us together, nor does it reduce fear.

Queerguru’s Contributing Editor Ris Fatah is a successful fashion/luxury business consultant  (when he can be bothered) who divides and wastes his time between London and Ibiza. He is a lover of all things queer, feminist, and human rights in general. @ris.fatah