Aristotle and Dante having a conversation about their future.

“Someday, I’m going to discover all the secrets of the universe.”

The recently released film, “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe” successfully uncovers the secrets in the universe of Aristotle Mendoza, portrayed by Max Pelayo, and Dante Quintana, portrayed by Reese Gonzales, two Mexican-American teenage boys in 1987 El Paso who share a passionate friendship laden with struggles of ethnic identity and coming to terms with sexuality.

The Blue Fox Entertainment film, directed by Aitch Alberto and based on the 2012 novel by author Benjamin Alire Saenz, depicts a dynamic relationship between the two titular characters, both loners who instantly bond and form a gradual romance while overcoming many personal hurdles. Their troubles are intense and their relationship is realistic, never falling into the typically perfect love story tropes where each character determines what they’re feeling for the other is love. Instead, both characters discover themselves at much different paces, starting off as just good friends until they eventually realize that their mutual attraction is more than platonic.

Pelayo and Gonzales portray this relationship with heartfelt sincerity. Pelayo’s Aristotle is more reserved and temperamental than Gonzales’s open and communicative Dante, perfectly depicting the differences in the two characters’ personalities down to the fluctuation of their tone of voice. Eugenio Darbez skillfully plays Aristotle’s similarly reserved father, with Veronica Falcón as a lifelike doting Mexican mother, coddling her moody teenage son as any real mom would. Eva Longoria and Kevin Alejandro play Dante’s outgoing and free-spirited parents, matching Gonzales’ playful energy as if they truly were all related.

The two first meet in a beautifully shot swimming pool scene at the start of the movie, bonding over their equally unique names, and Dante teaches Aristotle how to swim. From there, it is not exactly smooth sailing, or swimming in this case, as the two eventually dive deep into troubled waters after an accident befalls one of the two and leaves him hospitalized. Then, Dante moves to Chicago and the two face trials as a result of the distance now between them, but they keep in touch through heartfelt letters and continue updating each other on their personal lives.

In these letters, their relationship blossoms:

“Dear Ari, I miss El Paso. I think about it all the time, and I think of you.” Reese Gonzales reads this letter sincerely with a whispering, quiet affection in his voice.

In his letter to Dante, Max Pelayo reads rather abruptly as Aristotle accepts his fate, “Dear Dante, sorry I haven’t written. Maybe keeping things inside is just the way it has to be.”

The movie is admittedly a bit of a tearjerker, as it certainly made me cry while seated alone in the back of the theater. The movie is abundant with bittersweet, or often just bitter, emotions, especially when Dante gets violent in a superbly acted scene of intense anger bubbling up inside him. But, of course, there is sweetness after all where Aristotle discovers his own secret with Dante.

Overall, “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe” is a coming-of-age film, abundant with joy, sadness and angst, all emotions in which the audience can feel strongly with the characters and uncover their secrets along with them. 

It is rated PG-13 and is only briefly in theaters, but not yet available for streaming; likely to be coming to streaming in a few months and when it does, I highly recommend seeing it to discover the secrets of the universe for yourself.