a few points could not figure out

1. I read that the women in the picture is played by the director's sister, so I infer that she played a former girlfriend. The reason why he wasn't wearing glasses is because that was likely a candid photo of the actor (during his long-haired phase) and the sister from a while back, and chose to incorporate it into the film.

3. The flashback to them laying on the grass was supposed to act as a visual comparison to the Hawaii/pineapple slide.

1. I think the woman in the pic is an ex-GF. Most gay guys over 30 have dated girls before coming out. I think the purpose of the pics in the movie is to create ambiguity about E's intentions in M's mind. Much like when E asks M if the necklace is gift from a "novia". This mutual uncertainty -- the does he or doesnt he? -- creates much of the dramatic tension in the film. By the way, in the pic where E is standing alone in his underwear, he is wearing his glasses. Yes, I checked;). Here's a link to the photo:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/73958117@N03/15218052795/

2. I wouldn't read too much into the cat story. Kids can be cruel sometimes. I think the broader point is that E was the older boy, probably trying to impress the younger M who probably followed him around like a devoted puppy. Kids have connections too, like crushes but they don't understand those feelings and don't have a name for those feelings. I think it's telling that M says he doesn't remember E's siblings. I imagine that E was M's whole world for a new brief summer months -- memories that would be forgotten by both but for circumstances that have brought them back together. There is a boyish competition in their play. E, as the older boy, was used to being the leader and probably always "won" their games. Now M is more of an equal physically, if not socially. Again, adding to the current dramatic tension.

3. Which brings us to "dos ananas". Two pineapples, sitting in the sun, as equals, always there, almost forgotten, forever to be. The nostalgic, golden sheen in the "laying in the sun" shot is purposeful. (As quantran65 says, it's a counterpoint to the pineapples slide.) And E rises, watchful, protective -- and M, peaceful, trusting, protected -- reprising their childhood roles, now as equals. By the way, I think the reversed shot in M's cot is a reflection in a mirror -- but the import is to disintegrate the social imbalance that is keeping them apart -- E is coming down to M's level and he can't go back. This weak moment on E's part is greatly unsettling to him (the germ) and E almost ruins everything by rejecting Martin. But the final shattering of this social imbalance was ultimately necessary for his salvation. I might be overstating this last part (thinking out loud so to speak) but I think it works.


Anyway, thx for listening. Love love love the movie.

The memory of the cat getting stoned, and scenes in the film, suggest a darker side to Eugenio. Someone who is disconnected from the world, and from his emotions. Martin seemed traumatized by the memory while Eugenio was unperturbed. As when Eugenio explained his novel to Martin about a father seeing his six-year-old daughter as a germ. After Eugenio finished explaining, Martin smiled wryly. At the start of the film, Eugenio motivated by sexual desire is controlling and patronizing toward Martin. Witness the conversation about how to clean away the leaves. At the end of the film the tables are turned, with Martin disappearing Eugenio is now powerless; devastated by Martin is no longer with him, recognizing Martin brought light to his life and drew him outside himself. By giving Martin back his happy childhood memory of the view master, and the slide of the two pineapples, Eugenio is sending Martin a message that they are equal.

1. the man in the photos is Eugenio's uncle who came to visit. The woman took some intimate photos with the uncle, so it should be presumed that she's her wife. Remember this is the uncle's house? and he came to visit at some point and talked about his wife and children.

2. cat killing, and animal hunting. It's just ways of machismo to cover their growing attraction. The overly "manly" acts make it "impossible" they are gay, because there is a stereotype that gay men are not masculine. But also in the acts, they bonded with each other.