When filmmaker Gus Van Sant had to look for a Spanish speaking actor to play the boyfriend of Sean Penn’s character in the movie about Harvey Milk, the first openly gay civil servant chosen for a government position in the U.S., he immediately considered Diego Luna to be his ideal partner.

And he was not wrong, said Van Sant in an interview, because he considers the Y Tu Mamá También actor to be one of the most prolific talents of his generation.

“When Harvey was on the verge of being chosen, he met a boy, Jack Lira [played by Luna], originally from Fresno (California), who was not from Mexico City like Diego. In fact, he was Mexican-American, and Jack was a kind of boyfriend, problematic, he was drinking very much, and before Harvey left him, he killed himself.

“We were looking for one of the best Mexican actors and Diego was ideal. He was the ideal partner (for Harvey) and his role was fantastic,” indicated the director on a telephone call from his house in Portland, Oregon.

The movie Milk was filmed between January and March this year in San Francisco, the city where the politician practiced, and also has the participation of actors Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch and James Franco.

“We stopped filming it a few weeks ago. Harvey's story, who was chosen in 1977, narrates part of the history in the months previous to him being murdered. He was living on the famous Castro Street, which is a meca for gay people in the whole world. There we recreated his whole life. He was proud of what he was. He was competing for an official position, but more, for the work and the rights of gay people,” indicated the producer of Indomitable Mind and Elephant.

The premiere of this feature film is tentatively scheduled for November in the United States, although it is probable that Van Sant will present it in several film festivals. The director is working on the postproduction of the movie, which he did because he admired the convictions and the work of Milk, who was murdered at the age of 47, in 1978, ten months after his election.

“I have set a lot of the sound-track to Laurence of Arabia, which I believe has something perfect for the personality of my Milk,” said the director.

Translated by Heather~