Pedro Pascal, known for his role in the hit show “The Mandalorian,” has recently announced his upcoming role in Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar’s short film, “Strange Way of Life.” In the 30-minute flick, Pascal will take on the role of Silva, a cowboy who visits his friend Sheriff Jake, played by Ethan Hawke, after 25 years. The film’s title, according to the director, comes from a Portuguese fado that will open the movie, with the song’s sadness setting the tone for the two characters’ lives.
As Almodóvar’s second English-language short film, “Strange Way of Life” is highly anticipated, with rumors of a premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May. While the film is a period piece, set in the 1800s, its subject matter is highly relevant today. Almodóvar has stated that “Masculinity is one of the subjects of the movie,” with a focus on the animalistic nature of the relationship between Silva and Jake.
While Almodóvar was approached to direct the 2005 film adaptation of “Brokeback Mountain,” he ultimately declined due to concerns about his inability to make the film as sexually explicit as he would have liked. In an interview with IndieWire, he described “Strange Way of Life” as his answer to “Brokeback Mountain,” citing the film’s limitations in portraying the animalistic relationship between Ennis and Jack.
The film also stars Spanish actors Manu Ríos and Jason Fernández in unspecified roles, with speculation that they may appear as younger versions of Pascal and Hawke’s characters. Yves Saint Laurent creative director Anthony Vaccarello serves as both an associate producer on the film and its costume designer.
As a short film, “Strange Way of Life” may not receive the same level of attention as its feature-length counterparts at Cannes, but its subject matter and star-studded cast are sure to make an impact. With the LGBTQ+ community increasingly seeking representation in film, Pascal’s and Hawke’s roles in this intimate gay western are highly anticipated.