Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Slow
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- intimate
- leisurely
- sensual
- quiet evening
- arthouse movie night
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Germán’s attraction to his taekwondo partner Fernando develops within a group of male friends and is communicated through subdued behavior.
The weekend country-house gathering, swimming pool, sauna, and shared sleeping spaces create sustained proximity among the characters.
The friends’ bonding rituals and conversations repeatedly blur the boundaries between heterosexual performance, companionship, and homoerotic desire.
The holiday mood, nudity, cannabis use, and discussions of sexual conquests contrast with Germán’s unspoken interest in Fernando.
Films like Taekwondo, and why
The Way He Looks
intimate queer romance built around male friendship, repression, and understated courtship
Weekend
slow-burn lgbtq+ romantic tension shaped by a male social environment and emotional restraint
Keep the Lights On
observational queer drama emphasizing bodies, desire, friendship, and conversational intimacy
Movie Details
- Directors
- Martín Farina, Marco Berger
- Release Date
- 2016-08-18
- Runtime
- 105 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (95)
Cast
- Gabriel Epstein
- Lucas Papa
- Francisco Bertín
- Gaston Re
- Juan Manuel Martino
- Darío Miño
- Nicolás Barsoff
- Andrés Gavaldá
- Arturo Frutos
- Antonia De Michelis
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Dekkoo, Dekkoo Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video
- Buy
- Amazon Video
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Taekwondo about?
- During a secluded weekend with male friends, a young man navigates the unspoken desire growing between himself and his taekwondo partner.
- What is Taekwondo like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Taekwondo as slow, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Taekwondo violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Taekwondo.
- Which films are like Taekwondo?
- Films with a similar feel include The Way He Looks, Weekend, and Keep the Lights On.
- How long is Taekwondo?
- Taekwondo runs 105 minutes.
- Where can I watch Taekwondo?
- In United States, Taekwondo streams on Dekkoo, Dekkoo Amazon Channel.
