It's the year of gay Brazilian cruising!' The makers of Night Stage on public sex and their deranged erotic thriller'

"Night Stage, their third feature, concerns theatre actor Matias who meets Rafael, a mayoral candidate, via a hook-up app. The men discover a shared fetish for exhibitionism when Rafael throws open the curtains during sex, making the room visible to the entire street."

"The motif of curtains, at home and in the theatre, coupled with the idea of the stage contributes to the film's tension between performance and identity. How can these lovers truly be themselves when Matias's new TV acting job demands discretion about his personal life?"

"Queers are accepted now, someone observes, but only the ones who behave. This highlights the societal expectations placed on LGBTQ+ individuals, suggesting that acceptance is conditional."

The Brazilian films, The Secret Agent and Night Stage, showcase gay cruising scenes, emphasizing the tension between personal identity and societal norms. Night Stage follows Matias, a theatre actor, and Rafael, a mayoral candidate, who connect through a hook-up app. Their relationship explores themes of exhibitionism and discretion, as Matias's acting career and Rafael's political aspirations clash with their desires. The motif of curtains symbolizes the struggle between performance and authenticity, illustrating how societal acceptance of queers often comes with behavioral expectations.

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