Out Takes

5 Jul 2019

Loneliness and Companionship in Queer Cinema with Papi Chulo Director John Butler

Arts, TV & Film

For this week on Out Takes, we explored how loneliness and companionship take shape in queer cinema: think new queer cinema classics like MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO, literary masterpieces like A SINGLE MAN, and John Butler’s PAPI CHULO.

PAPI CHULO centres around Sean (Matt Bomer), a newly-single TV weatherman who is put on leave following an on-air meltdown, so he directs his energy into home improvement and hires a middle-aged Latino day laborer named Ernesto (Alejandro Patiño) to help. Despite a language barrier and having nothing in common, the two men develop an unexpected but profound friendship.

Our guest was PAPI CHULO director John Butler, who joined us last year when his charming take on friendship, HANDSOME DEVIL, first hit cinemas. We spoke with Butler about how his films mediate the queer experience of lonliness and friendship, and where PAPI CHULO sits in the queer canon.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 52:32 — 37.1MB)

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13 Jan 2026

Midsumma 2026 – MQFF with Ro Bright, and There’s a story in you: a Queer filmmaking workshop with Louise Lever

TV & Film

With Melbourne’s premiere queer arts and culture festival a.k.a. Midsumma 2026, kicking off on January 18, we dedicated this program ...

6 Jan 2026

‘Heated Rivalry’ plus films we’re looking forward to in 2026

TV & Film

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TV & Film

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