Writer/ director Julián Hernández’s starkly poetic neorealist 2003 Mexican romantic drama film A Thousand Clouds of Peace showcases his dazzling style and imagination.

Diego Arizmendi’s extraordinary, gleaming film noir-style black and white cinematography leads the way to success for this Mexican minor work of art, minor but real. The cinematography could hardly be more imaginative and brilliant if it tried, and boy does it try. The minimalist film seems inspired by films of the late Fifties/ early Sixties, recalling Bresson and early Pasolini, and quite favourably too.

Gerardo, a 17-year old guy has just finished his relationship with Bruno and starts wandering hopeless through the streets of the city. In his wandering he’s tortured by images: each masculine body he sees reminds him of his lover. Gerardo is determined to keep what’s left of his dying love. The only comfort he has is a letter that Bruno left him with his boss.