"It's not every day someone crosses the desert to come see you."
"Years ago, you asked me what two men could do living together on a ranch."
Strange Way of Life (Extraña forma de vida) is a Spanish short film (~31 minutes) by Pedro Almodóvar, starring Pedro Pascal and Ethan Hawke. It premiered at Cannes 2023 ahead of a theatrical release in Spain later that month. It was also released on Netflix internationally.
Set in the Wild West, it follows Silva (Pascal) and Jake (Hawke), two former gunslingers who reunite intimately after 25 years. However, Jake has also become sherriff of the town, and Silva's son Joe (George Steane) is accused of murdering his girlfriend, Jake's sister-in-law. Jake suspects that Silva is using him to protect Joe.
Tropes:
- A Family Affair: Silva accuses Jake of having an affair with his brother's wife. Jake simply says it was a long time ago.
- Former Teen Rebel: Jake used to be a gunslinger, now he is a respected sherriff in his middle age.
- Gay Cowboy: In this Western short film, the two male leads were lovers in their gunslinger youth. Now those feelings have been rekindled after over two decades, when one is a sheriff and the other a cowboy.
- I Am the Noun: Sherriff Jake says the classic "I am the law" when explaining why he has to personally find his sister-in-law's killer.
- Mexican Standoff: In the climax Jake and Joe have guns pointed at each other while Silva, who wants to protect Joe, is pointing a rifle at Silva. When Jake moves to fire at Joe Silva shoots him through the side.
- Run for the Border: After his son is accused of murder Silva demands that he cross the border into Mexico to escape the sherriff and never return.
- Sexy Discretion Shot: During their reunion dinner Silva and Jake reminisce about their reckless youth. Then Jake approaches Silva, kisses his neck, fade to black...and we see the remnants of an obvious sexual encounter the next morning.
- Spicy Latina: In a flashback, Jake and Silva enter a wine room with some beautiful olive-skinned, dark-haired, Hispanic-accented prostitutes. However, the ladies are disgusted when they realize the two are gay.
- Timeshifted Actor: Jason Fernández and José Condessa play young Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal respectively.
- You Wouldn't Shoot Me: When Jake pulls a gun on Silva, the latter correctly counters that Jake wouldn't shoot a half-naked man in his bedroom because of all the implications.
