Papi Chulo

"Sometimes a stranger makes the best friend."

2019 1h 38m EN

😐

5.3

MID

★5.3TMDB · 37

ComedyDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A lonely TV weatherman strikes up an unusual friendship with a middle-aged Latino migrant worker.

“Sometimes a stranger makes the best friend.”

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Cast

Matt Bomer
Sean
Alejandro Patiño
Ernesto
Elena Campbell-Martinez
Linda
Wendi McLendon-Covey
Ash
Michael Shepperd
Stan
Tommie Earl Jenkins
Tom
Shaughn Buchholz
Mike
Tom Beyer
Floor Manager

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: John Butler
Writers: John Butler
Languages: English
Countries: Ireland, United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 7 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: Ireland, United Kingdom.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by John Butler, shot by Cathal Watters. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by John McPhillips. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Matt Bomer and Alejandro Patiño and Elena Campbell-Martinez carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Sometimes a stranger makes the best friend.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt8228538 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 37 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

John Butler directs. Cathal Watters behind the camera. John McPhillips scores. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Ireland, United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 7 years ago.
2International production across 2 countries: Ireland, United Kingdom.
3Directed by John Butler, shot by Cathal Watters. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by John McPhillips. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Matt Bomer and Alejandro Patiño and Elena Campbell-Martinez carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "Sometimes a stranger makes the best friend.".
7IMDB entry: tt8228538 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 37 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Cathal Watters
Original score: John McPhillips
Runtime: 98 min · 1h 38m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Papi Chulo (2019)

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John Butler

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Community reviews

What people are saying

SWITCH.2019-06-01
Full of dark revelations and scattered with offbeat satire, ‘Papi Chulo’ has an important message to share about mental health. Its pacing isn’t perfect and the result is a story that lags at times, but this film bravely tells a story rarely seen on screen, let alone from within the LGBT community. And fear not - despite its heavy subject, it finishes with a happy ending that’s both fitting and still grounded in reality. ‘Papi Chulo’ is an important start to a discussion that requires a much larger conversation. - Charlie David Page Read Charlie's full article... https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-papi-chulo-a-deep-dark-comedy-dealing-with-lgbt-mental-health Head to https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/sff for more Sydney Film Festival reviews.
CinemaSerf2025-04-16
★ 7/10
Local television weatherman “Sean” (Matt Bomer) has a bit of brain freeze whilst on air and is sent home for a few weeks of gardening leave. It’s then that we discover he has recently split from his boyfriend and all that’s left of the relationship is a mark on their patio where a plant once stood. He tries to see to it himself, but decides it’s best to get a little man in - and so drives down to the corner where the immigrants gather and recruits “Ernesto” (Alejandro Patiño). He doesn’t speak much English and gets on with his work but inexplicably “Sean” starts to find himself drawn to this older, straight and slightly bamboozled gent who is happy to take the cash for a day’s work but in no way sees his new benefactor in any sort of a sexual, or emotional, fashion. It only takes so long to cover a spot on the patio, so soon “Sean” is finding other excuses to spend time with “Ernesto” - much to the confusion of that man’s wife, but gradually the pair begin to understand and respect each other. It’s a film about friendship, pure and simple, and though Bomer is the star it’s really Patiño who steals the plaudits as his bemused character has to navigate this new world of his gay friend. Some of his facial expressions are hilarious as the story sort of meanders along without any obvious place to go, nor need to go either. At times it’s quite a potently amiable look at breaking down barriers, assumptions and stereotypes without their being an agenda - and is worth a look.