Two other French films weren't quite so sunny. "A Matter of Taste" deals with a creepy industrialist, Bernard Giraudeau from "Water Drops on Burning Rocks," who hires a young, aimless man to be his personal taster. Over course of film Giraudeau molds and psychologically tortures taster into becoming almost his twin. The movie is never overtly gay, but homoerotic tension between two leads is pushed all way through film. In "Come Undone," two high school age boys meet at beach, start spending lots of time together in and out of bed (memorably at one point in dunes), and eventually learn some truths about life. Both films deal with ambiguity and unresolved conflict. Both films deal with power and struggles for dominance in a relationship. A Matter of Taste is a considerably darker take on how this might play out between two men, but both stories are sexy and compelling.

Speaking of sexy and compelling, most erotic film I saw at festival was this first time film from João Pedro Rodrigues of Portugal. "O Fantasma" deals with a country boy, Sergio (played by Ricardo Meneses in his first role), in big city who takes a job as a garbage collector. He spends a lot of time working out his position/place in a sexual world, including flirting with a female coworker who is sleeping with her boss; stalking a handsome, motorcycle-riding man he meets; and generally working out his sexual frustrations. These scenes are all in well lit, extremely well photographed sequences - at a public pool, in yard outside his stalking victim's house, and in back seat of a police car. The film takes a step into surreal in its last 20 minutes, but director has taken steps to lead you to this point. In a way, Sergio is just trying to work out who is alpha male in this new world he's found himself in.

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Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com

Pastorelas (or shepherds' plays) are another key aspect of Mexican Christmas tradition. Pastorelas are dramatic pieces which represent various historical scenarios, including trip of Saint Joseph and Virgin Mary to register themselves in Roman census, hardships they suffered while searching in vain for shelter, or one of most common, shepherd's adoration of Baby Jesus.

The plays date back to Mexico's Colonial period when Catholic missionaries used these dramatizations to convert natives to Christianity. The first known pastorela to have been performed was "Los Reyes" (the three kings) acted out by missionaries in 1527 in Cuernavaca. Today, they are often performed by professional groups, but also by children and amateurs.

Mexico welcomes New Year with an abundance of music, dancing and fireworks. Streets are filled with revelers, friends and families congregating for parties that often last till dawn. One tradition calls for eating twelve grapes, one with each stroke of chiming bell, at midnight for luck in coming 12 months. New Year's Day is usually a quiet time of rest and reflection.

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Kriss Hammond, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com