Don’t Tell Anyone (released under the Spanish title of No se lo Digas a Nadie) is based on the novel of the same name by bisexual talk show host, Jaime Bayly. The movie follows main character Joaquín as he tries to come to terms with his homosexual feelings while attempting to live up to others’ expectations. Joaquín struggles to fit in as he is surrounded by homophobic friends, a girlfriend who claims she can “fix him,” an overly religious mother and a macho father.
The theme of homosexuality is made clear from the very beginning when Joaquín first appears as a young boy at camp. Alone in his tent with just one other boy, Joaquín reaches out to touch his schoolmate who shakes him off in disgust. Joaquín begs, “No se lo digas a nadie.” Similar incidents are repeated throughout the story.
After the short initial scene, the movie immediately cuts to a time when Joaquín is grown up and still struggling with his homosexual feelings. Concerned by his son’s behavior, Joaquín’s father tries to engage the boy in numerous masculine activities including boxing, shooting and hunting – he even pays for a prostitute for his son’s graduation present – but all efforts are futile. Joaquín begins to feel desperate and turns to drugs and alcohol in order to cope.
El tema de la homosexualidad está claro desde el principio, cuando Joaquín aparece por primera vez cuando era un niño pequeño durante un campamento. En su tienda de campaña, solo con otro chico, Joaquín se estira para tocarlo pero su compañero de escuela lo rechaza con disgusto. Joaquín le suplica: “No Se lo Digas a Nadie”. Incidentes similares se repiten a lo largo de la historia.
Después de la corta escena inicial, la película pasa inmediatamente al momento en el que Joaquín, ya mayor, sigue luchando con sus sentimientos homosexuales. Preocupado por el comportamiento de su hijo, el padre de Joaquín intenta involucrar al niño en numerosas actividades masculinas, incluyendo boxeo, tiro y cacería; incluso contrata una prostituta como regalo de graduación para su hijo, pero todos los esfuerzos son inútiles. Joaquín comienza a sentirse desesperado y recurre a las drogas y el alcohol para sobrellevar la situación.
SPANISH LESSON
“…bailando al son que le tocan los demás…” The literal translation is “dancing to the tune others play for him.” And the real meaning would be “to accommodate his own behavior to the times and circumstances”, “to live up to others’ expectations.”
Example: “El profesor no toma decisions importantes, sólo baila al son que le toca el director”. (“The teacher doesn’t make important decisions, he lives up to the director’s expectations.”)