A Messy Luna

Diego Luna, famous for steamy roles in "Y Tu Mama Tambien" and  the "Dirty Dancing" prequel "Havana Nights," has taken on a grittier character in Gus Van Sant's much-anticipated film "Milk," which chronicles the rise and untimely demise of America's first openly gay politician, Harvey Milk (played brilliantly by Oscar winner Sean Penn).

(Photo: Focus Features)

Luna's role is that of the needy and alcoholic Jack, who shows up one night on Harvey's doorstep, becomes his lover and goes on to arouse contempt in the seminal gay activist's inner circle. Luna's part is a relatively small one, yet he manages to steal the show in virtually every scene he's in.

The 30-year-old Latin heartthrob, on the road to promote the moving biopic, discusses why the film is so important, how he first learned about the legendary San Francisco supervisor and what the experience was like watching himself as Jack onscreen with his very pregnant wife beside him.

(Photo: Getty Images)
On why the story of Harvey Milk is important:

There are films you do because you're part of an industry, and you take those films because they give people jobs. But there are films that matter and have something to say. The story of Harvey Milk needs to be told. Harvey's story should remind people that that there was someone who cared about respect and celebrating differences. We cannot forget him. His story happened 30 years ago, so it’s not that long ago, and I believe this country needs another thousand Harvey Milks. There are places like San Francisco where you can live you life freely. But it’s not the reality of this country. It’s not the reality of the world.

On first learning about the life of Harvey Milk:

I heard of Harvey for the first time when I was 16. I came to the Castro with a friend of mine, a director who lives here [in San Francisco], and he told me a little bit about who Harvey was, but I didn’t really pay attention. In a very naïve way I thought freedom was normal. I had just been to Amsterdam, where I thought everybody just breathed freedom, and I thought it was normal for everybody in the world to breathe the same kind of freedom.

I felt so guilty when I watched the documentary ["The Life and Times of Harvey Milk"], because until then I didn't realize that freedom was so special. So I felt honored when Gus asked me to be part of his film "Milk," about Harvey's life.

(Photo: Getty Images)
On whether the community and opinions about the community have changed since Harvey Milk's time:

I do believe we haven’t changed. I do believe we haven’t got the message. We still doubt the strength we have and the power we have. Life is about creating the reality we deserve and creating a world you want to live in and see your kids and your family live in. And if you don’t work every day for that to happen, then you don’t deserve anything.

Harvey is an example of making things happen. He was ten months in office, but he worked years and years to make people know that they shouldn’t be afraid of being who they are. In fact, they could celebrate who they are.

It doesn’t matter how much time we have in this world -- it’s what we do with that time, and Harvey did a lot.

On whether the film will change minds about the gay community:

Yes, but it's not just about the gay community. I don't think we should think so thin. The film is about respect for differences, whatever those may be.  And it tells you that being different makes this world richer, and being around different people makes our reality richer. You can choose to be with people who think like you and people who get excited by what gets you excited, but that to me makes a very boring life. We can choose to be around by people who surprise us, people who challenge us to understand what their lives are like. You would have to like to use your brain, which I like to do. And I think we have to force this to happen. I think this film is going to help with that.

(Photo: Getty Images)
On playing the character of Jack:

I thought of Jack as one of those terrible jokes. Imagine being gay in Mexico and telling your father that you like men, and your father hates you and sends you out of your house. And then you escape to some place where you say you're not going to tell anyone you're gay, and then they ask you where you're from, and you say you're from Mexico, and [because you're Mexican] they treat you just as badly as your father did. That's how I imagine Jack. I imagine that's what happened to him, and he found alcohol as a great way to forget who he was, you know? There were bubbles like San Francisco where he could hide. But the problem with bubbles is that they break easily. You can't expect to live your life in a bubble, because it means your life is going to be short.

On watching himself onscreen in "Milk" for the first time:

It was weird -- very weird. I was sitting with my wife and she was 8 1/2 months pregnant . I just didn’t want the film to be such a shock for her that we would have to run to the hospital, you know? [Laughs.]
But I have to say that for the first 10 minutes it was like just watching a film I had made, but then I just became part of the audience and was touched by the story and by Sean’s performance and the performances of all the cast. I was finding out along with the rest of the audience who Harvey Milk was.

I thought I was watching, hearing and feeling a little bit of Gus Van Sant’s heart. He begins the story by telling you that Harvey Milk would die. Other filmmakers might have waited till the end of the film to show you Harvey's death and would try to break your heart with that. But Gus started out by saying, This guy is going to die, like all of us, and that doesn't make him important or not. What makes someone important is what he does with his life. Gus said, Let me show you what this man did and who he was.  It's what makes this film different from anything else.

I'm only onscreen for a tiny bit of the story, so I had a chance to enjoy it. I always used to suffer a lot when I see a film I'm in, but I didn't suffer watching this one. It's a special film.

Comments

[Matt]

I'm tired of seeing the word "Latin" as a generic description. Diego Luna is a MEXICAN actor, Just as Shakira is a COLOMBIAN singer. Neither is "Latin". Would you call Gerard Depardieu a "European" actor? Of course not! You'd say he was French. So please stop using the word "Latin".

[Partrick Guevara]

I do not understand why you are promoting a movie for a Company that supported vote yes on Prop 8? Where are your loyalties to your community of users? I want to vomit.

[caspianGDC]

Patrick, please be informed before you make a comment that contains incorrect information. MILK's production and distribution company Focus Films, director Gus Van Sant, writer Lance Black and the whole cast of the film, including actor Diego Luna, have been extremely vocal about their opposition to Proposition 8.

Cinemark, a chain of theaters, is the company that supported Proposition 8 -- not anyone associated with the making of the film itself.

Don't give Cinemark your money by seeing this great movie at a theater owned by that company, but please do educate yourself before posting comments that are untrue.

[goneblue]

Yes I agree with two of the prior comments...
We all should see this film, but we SHOULD NOT GO to a CINEMARK THEATER. This company Cinemark, supported the proposition 8 .. it is shaming and vomiting. We should broke this company, their theaters should have 0 audience, this must be our goal... Yes we can do it.
Also, even though there is nothing wrong being "latin", if you will call other people French, or British, Luna should be called Mexican and Shakira and Juanes Colombians...
And funny thing ... I have never read that anybody calls the Italian guys as latins,.. they are the real latins is the world, since the Roman Empire is the origin of the term "latin".. You should use "Latin Americans" when talking about Luna, Shakira, etc.. It is time that the language used in the USA turns more global, otherwise people from other countries will get confused when they read the American use of the word "latin" for example.

[goneblue]

Yes I agree with two of the prior comments...
We all should see this film, but we SHOULD NOT GO to a CINEMARK THEATER. This company Cinemark, supported the proposition 8 .. it is shaming and vomiting. We should broke this company, their theaters should have 0 audience, this must be our goal... Yes we can do it.
Also, even though there is nothing wrong being "latin", if you will call other people French, or British, Luna should be called Mexican and Shakira and Juanes Colombians...
And funny thing ... I have never read that anybody calls the Italian guys as latins,.. they are the real latins is the world, since the Roman Empire is the origin of the term "latin".. You should use "Latin Americans" when talking about Luna, Shakira, etc.. It is time that the language used in the USA turns more global, otherwise people from other countries will get confused when they read the American use of the word "latin" for example.

[Jesse]

Ugh, this is passion of the christ all over again.

Do not support this movie in Cinemark theaters.

[Patrick Guevara]

I am sorry I am not as "educated" as some who responded to this post. I assure you I do not care about seeing this movie at all. Now I am pissed.

[mcbi9999]

Lost in all this argument over tangential topics is the idea that Diego Luna can be an openly-gay, Spanish-speaking actor discussing a role pretty much defined by the discrimination the character faced just 30 years ago for that same bundle of adjectives. There's still a long way to go... but progress happens too.

[Nakhone]

Patrick. It was the truth. You weren't in the know about the facts surrounding the movie so accept it. The truth will set you free but first it will piss you off and it's ok to be pissed off. However, don't not go see that historic movie for the educational value of it and turn your anger into something useful and channel creatively to fight for our equality. I'll see you on the battle field my Gay brother. We Need You!!!

Love,
-Nakhone

[Nakhone]

Patrick. It was the truth. You weren't in the know about the facts surrounding the movie so accept it. The truth will set you free but first it will piss you off and it's ok to be pissed off. However, don't not go see that historic movie for the educational value of it and turn your anger into something useful and channel creatively to fight for our equality. I'll see you on the battle field my Gay brother. We Need You!!!

Love,
-Nakhone

[Duncan]

mcbi9999, since when is Diego Luna openly gay? Don't mistake his supportive comments in this interview for coming out (especially since he refers to seeing the film with his pregnant wife). But you're right about one thing, he is Spanish-speaking.

[Jeff Paul Internet Millions]

I wanted to read your post but was not able to view it. How can I view your post?

[Hair loss]

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