Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, which made its world premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, is more than a queer coming-of-age drama. It is a beautiful exploration of cultural identity and generational trauma. The story is raw and sickly sweet as it strips two teenage Mexican-American boys to their barest bones, leaving them exposed to themselves, each other, and the harsh world around them.

Based on a 2012 bestselling novel by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, the movie is directed and adapted by newcomer Aitch Alberto, who faithfully leads with careful thought and intention. Viewers first meet Aristotle Mendoza (Max Pelayo) and Dante Quintana (Reese Gonzales) in the summer of 1987 at a community swimming pool, a year plagued with social unrest and radical AIDs activism.

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The two bond over their philosophy-inspired names and Dante offers to teach a struggling Aristotle how to swim. While an immediate match, they are polar opposites. Aristotle journeys through life in silence, carrying around fiery anger while Dante is a whirlwind of emotions and words. He walks around barefoot, recites poems aloud, and says things like, "I'm crazy about my parents."

Their bond strengthens through events that would be deemed meandering if Aristotle and Dante weren't such intriguing characters. Aristotle is a loner and has a stilted relationship with his father and a distant one with his mother, both credited, in part, to his older brother being in prison for a serious crime. But rather than painting the adults as "the bad ones," they show their love in the only way they know how: Ms. Mendoza offers her son words of kindness and warm meals, and the patriarch gives longing glances and slight touches. Dante picks up on this as Aristotle begins to open up to him, and encourages the other teen to remember that parents are just people, too.

Dante shuffles around the Mendoza household and upon his first visit, brings a genuine gift, an art book from his parents (who work in education and psychology). He invites Aristotle to keep him company while he cleans his room and to join him along on a family trip to go star-gazing in the desert. They instantly become close friends.

As the movie (and the novel) is told entirely through Aristotle's point-of-view, it is established that the quieter one doesn't have many friends, or well, any at all, before Dante, and while Dante has a more outgoing and maternal personality, he seldom mentions the other people he hangs out with, insinuating that he could be just as lonesome as the other boy.

Just as the fun begins, a wrench is thrown into their dream-like summer of friendship. Dante shares that his family will be going to Chicago for a year. Aristotle tries to play it cool, but it's clear that he is feeling a bit bummed. The remainder of the movie flies by. There's a reunion, a car accident, some misguided romances, a falling out (expertly amped up for the big screen), and a heartbreaking crime, all coupled with an ending that will leave viewers like they, too, have discovered the secrets of the universe.

In a conversation with Alberto, she revealed that over an hour of the movie was left on the cutting room floor (which is often the case for independent movies), however, fans of the book will be satisfied in knowing that all the best bits are there, along with a few creative liberties that enrich the story, rather than detract. Alberto fearlessly demonstrates her dedication to her craft through her feature debut, yielding moments of stillness and silence, and cinematic shots of the surrounding environment, located at the border of Mexico and the United States, which also plays a pivotal role in Sáenz' writing.

Pelayo and Gonzales give earnest performances that encapsulate the multi-faceted issues both boys are facing. Pelayo fully embodies Aristotle, quietly hiding his anger behind clenched fists and hunched shoulders, which only seem to relax when in the arms of his loved ones or in the presence of Dante. Gonzales carries Dante's gentle nature and manages to maintain his character's 15-year-old-ness while speaking in lyrical prose and oddities.

The movie is a pure reminder of what it's like to be young and in love, and the harshness of being a teenager. It has lessons for all ages and while soft in nature, dives headfirst into the drama, giving way to an emotional and invigorating tonal shift in the final act. The diverse cast and crew honor the source material and understand the unique voice of Sáenz' writing. Super fans, keep an ear out for a gracious Easter egg, as producer and 2013 audiobook reader Lin-Manuel Miranda, makes a sneaky appearance.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is currently seeking distribution.

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