Strange Way of Life 2023

In this compelling story, Silva (Pedro Pascal) makes a rare appearance after a 25-year absence, riding across a vast desert landscape to reunite with his old friend Jake (Ethan Hawke). Jake has since become the Sheriff of a small, rugged Wild West town, where life is tough and justice often takes a hard turn. Silva’s arrival reopens old wounds and unearths long-buried memories, setting the stage for a story deeply rooted in friendship, betrayal, and unresolved pasts.

Upon arriving, Silva is greeted with surprising news about a recent murder involving a widow whose last sighting points to her violent boyfriend, Joe (José Condessa). The town suspects Joe’s involvement, and Jake, sworn to protect his brother’s widow and seek justice, decides to take a personal hand in the investigation. His dedication leads him to an unexpected visitor—Silva—who soon joins him for a dinner filled with nostalgia and reflection. Their conversation quickly drifts into intimate territory, culminating in a night of passion, where the past and present collide.

The following morning, Silva revisits his old dream of owning a ranch with Jake, proposing the idea once more. However, Jake coldly rebuffs him, suspecting that Silva’s motives are driven by ulterior reasons. The tension intensifies when Jake reveals that Joe is actually Silva’s son, fueling doubts about Silva’s sudden return. Accusations fly, with Jake believing Silva has only come back to help Joe evade justice, especially since Silva left town after 25 years of absence.

As their confrontation escalates, Silva departs in anger to locate Joe, with Jake following closely behind. The two men separately recall a shared moment from their youth—when they first had sex—hardly a coincidence in the tangled web of their history. Silva eventually finds Joe at his ranch, where he sharply confronts and explodes at him, offering him just enough money and a horse to cross into Mexico, insisting that Joe never come back.

The emotional confrontation turns violent when Jake surprises Joe at his ranch, leading to a tense standoff. Both men draw their revolvers, ready to shoot. Silva intervenes, threatening Joe with a rifle and warning him not to harm Jake. Silva’s resolve is tested when he shoots Jake in the waist, the bullet passing cleanly through him. Silva quickly drags Jake into his house and tends to his wound, reassuring him that the injury is not life-threatening. Jake, shocked but composed, threatens to have Silva arrested for attempted murder, but Silva counters that his own actions, and the fact that he tended to Jake afterward, undermine that claim.

Throughout their dialogue, Silva reflects on an old question Jake once asked about what two men could do alone on a ranch. With quiet tenderness, Silva suggests that they could simply “keep each other company and take care of one another,” hinting at a profound, unspoken bond that guides their complicated relationship.

This story explores themes of loyalty, love, regret, and the enduring human need for companionship amid the brutal and unpredictable backdrop of the Wild West. The characters’ relationships are layered with past regrets and present fears, creating a narrative filled with tension, emotional depth, and the possibility of redemption.