Summary
Goyo (2024), an Argentine romantic drama, intricately tackles love and neurodiversity with tenderness. Written and directed by Marcos Carnevale, the film focuses on the life of an autistic man who is led outside his comfort zone and experiences the human connection for the first time.
It narrates the story of Gregorio “Goyo” Villanueva, an extremely organized young man who works as a tour guide at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes in Buenos Aires. Goyo is on the spectrum. His world is predictable, filled with solitude and a profound admiration for Vincent van Gogh’s art… until he meets Eva Montero, the new security guard at the museum. First on the list of Goyo’s favorite performers outings.
Eva is a disillusioned woman, recently recovering from a poorly managed marriage. She is walking around with emotional wounds and wearing a shield of a lost soldier. But alongside, she is an empathetic and open woman―which gradually gets through Goyo’s defenses.
What starts as an awkward companionship slowly transforms into a warm romance. As Goyo and Eva’s relationship grows, they must face emotional difficulties that threaten their vulnerabilities, principles, and ability to accept change. Goyo grapple with the anxiety of stepping into the unknown and the discomforting nature of emotionally unpredictable situations, and Eva confronts the struggle of holding onto the past by learning to love in its purest, most genuine essence.
Narratively exploring gentler themes, the movie showcases how two people, one experiencing emotional turmoil and the other desperately chasing order, manage to develop a sort of balance in each other, even if they are complete opposites.
Cast & Characters
Nicolás Furtado as Goyo Villanueva: Furtado gives a nuanced, deeply human interpretation of Goyo Villanueva. He walks with great sensitivity, dramatizing the challenges of navigating life with autism without falling into stereotype of Goyo. Furtado’s emotive silence and precise style of rendering Goyo’s world feel authentic and respectful.
Nancy Dupláa as Eva Montero: Equally compelling, Dupláa’s portrayal of Eva is as impactful as it is well-balanced. It illustrates a woman who has suffered but remains ready to try one more time, and does so with empathy that draws the audience in. The connection between the two actors feels genuine and warm, and so does the bond between Furtado and Dupláa, which is sweet, tender, and truly earned.
Soledad Villamil as Saula Villanueva: Villamil deepens the narrative as Goyo’s sister. She illustrates the supporting figure of the family that helps Goyo to cope and flourish. Villamil’s character is protective, at times excessively so, but always caring.
Pablo Rago as Matías Villanueva: Matias, Goyo’s brother, introduces the sibling relationship with its unique issues of family expectations and misunderstandings. His character balances the narrative with social constructs of “normality.”
Cecilia Roth as Magdalena: In some crucial scenes, Roth supplies perspective, wisdom, and warmth for Eva, playing the role of an elder in the character’s life.
Direction and Visual Style
The director marks Carnevale’s work on Goyo with special attention because the auteur is known for weaving together heart warming drama with social issues. His empathy towards his subjects is evident from the start, employing gentle prodding. The unfolding of the story is gentle, letting moments linger while building emotion. There is no attention paid to melodrama for Carnevale. Instead, authenticity is prioritized: looks, hushed interactions, and the simple yet profound beauty of quiet companionship.
Horacio Maira’s filming demonstrates a minimalistic yet personal approach. The museum setting visually encapsulates Goyo’s inner world as calm, orderly, quiet, and a realm teeming with concealed splendor waiting to be unveiled. The film frequently emphasizes emotion by illuminating characters with warm light, a hallmark of tenderness in their story.
The score by Iván Wyszogrod is subtle yet sophisticated, matching the film’s emotional weight with effortless grace. He captures the emotional flow, allowing the music to swell at key moments, and retreat amidst dialogue and silence when the characters’ need to express becomes more profound.
Thematic Explorations and Emotional Resonance
Goyo extends beyond a mere tale of romance; it invites reflection on divergence, acceptance, surrender. The film engages with autism not as an obstacle to love, but a lens in which love is seen and felt differently. It also confronts the emotional capacity assumptions, depicting the profound relationships that can exist from individuals on the autism spectrum.
The film broadly addresses the theme of emotional recovery. Eva’s journey depicts a gradual reawakening, a journey devoid of manipulation or wounding, and offers clarity, constancy, and a seldom seen purity in adult relationships.
Most importantly, the film does not allow Goyo to become a “project” in Eva’s eyes. Their relationship evolves based on respect and understanding rather than pity or savior dynamics. Because of this balance, the romance feels empowering, not exploitative.
Reception and Critique
Goyo seems to have been well-received by audiences and critics alike. Viewers enjoyed the authentic portrayal of autism, the heartfelt performances, and the emotionally appealing script. Many praised Nicolás Furtado for respectfully and affectively portraying Goyo, while the chemistry between the two leads was frequently noted as one of the film’s highlights.
Critics praised the film for tackling sensitive topics without resorting to clichés or sentimentalism. More critically, some thought the narrative, although rich in emotion, did not take enough risks. A handful of scenes were viewed as too safe, and the pacing in the middle act slowed the story too much.
In spite of these minor critiques, the film was lauded for fulfilling its aims. In particular, the depiction of neurodiversity was viewed as a positive step in film, arguing that it provided a respectful, humanized, non-sensationalist approach.
Conclusion
Goyo (2024) presents itself as a characteristic film, deeply assimilating emotional elicitness alongside social relevance. The film presents a poignant narrative on how two individuals resonate with each other’s solitude while finding solace in their love. Shattering the barriers of modern romance, this film is a touching addition to the genre with gentle visuals, respectful representation of neurodiversity, and strong acting.
Sighting Goyo on the broader lens, it represents the broader idea of love and relationships. It teaches us that love not only floureshes because of differences but also truly appreciates imperfections. This film showcases the importance of unconditional and understated support when it claims, ‘Connection does not exist in grand gestures, but in calm stillness.’
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