Rotting in the Sun 2023

In the heart of Mexico City, we meet Sebastián Silva, a troubled artist and filmmaker grappling with a ketamine addiction and contemplating the grim decision of ending his life with pentobarbital. His life takes a mundane turn with his friend and landlord, Mateo, who, while renovating the apartment building, adds a darkly comic twist to Sebastián’s despair by jokingly encouraging his suicidal thoughts. One of the few constants in Sebastián’s tumultuous life is his dedicated housekeeper, Vero, who fears for her job due to Mateo’s abusive tendencies and genuinely worries about Sebastián’s well-being, yet he hardly acknowledges her presence.

After a perilous near-drowning at a gay nude beach, Sebastián’s fate intertwines with that of Jordan Firstman, an American comedian and social media influencer, who is fascinated by Sebastián’s artistic vision. Believing their encounter to be serendipitous, Jordan proposes a collaboration on his television project. Inviting Sebastián to a party, Jordan captures a moment of Sebastián consuming ketamine and shares it online without his consent. This leads to a heated confrontation where Sebastián criticizes Jordan for his superficiality and lack of substance.

Returning to his struggles, Sebastián hopes for a breakthrough during a meeting with HBO executives; however, his pitch is rejected. When he mentions Jordan’s project, the executives show interest, sparking Sebastián to rekindle the collaboration with Jordan, who insists on moving in for the project. In a bid to accommodate Jordan, Sebastián seeks Vero’s assistance to move a cumbersome couch. However, amidst Jordan’s persistent phone calls, Sebastián becomes distracted, resulting in a tragic fall from the rooftop.

In her overwhelming grief, Vero covers Sebastián’s lifeless body and leaves for her niece’s quinceañera, where she confides in her brother, Lalo, who suggests hiding the incident. Together, they wrap Sebastián’s body in a tarp and conceal it in the storage space, fearing the truth wouldn’t be believed by the police.

Meanwhile, Jordan grows worried over Sebastián’s absence, interpreting the situation as being ghosted and falsely claims online that he and Sebastián had fallen in love, while also expressing excitement about the project. However, upon discovering Sebastián’s belongings one night, his concerns deepen, leading him to rally his followers for help in locating Sebastián. Meanwhile, Mateo discovers Sebastián’s journals, which unveil his struggle with suicidal thoughts, leading him to fear for his own culpability.

Amidst all this chaos, Vero takes drastic measures as she obtains pentobarbital and strategically places the box in Sebastián’s trash to frame the narrative. When Mateo discovers that Vero has been eavesdropping, he confronts her and steals Sebastián’s phone and journals, further complicating the situation. In a vulnerable moment, Vero shares her guilt with Jordan, who, despite language barriers, tries to comfort her.

Sebastián’s brother, Juan, arrives in Mexico upon seeing Jordan’s posts, desperate to uncover the truth behind Sebastián’s disappearance. Tension escalates as the police arrive to piece together the mystery, leading to discoveries that confirm their worst fears about possible suicide. Mateo’s confession, due to his panic over the incriminating evidence, highlights the mounting suspicions against him. With the emotional strain intensifying, Juan mourns what seems to be the loss of his brother while Jordan is urged to leave by Mateo.

In the park, Jordan attempts to bridge the communication gap with Vero using a translation app, but when Vero reveals the truth of the events, the translation fails her, leading to further confusion as she walks away clutching a bottle of pentobarbital. In this tangled web of miscommunication, guilt, and tragedy, the characters are left grappling with the repercussions of their actions, each hoping for peace and understanding in a world overshadowed by despair.