Nene Brignone is a character portrayed by Leonardo Sbaraglia in the film Burnt Money (2000). Brignone dazzles through his control amidst chaos. Unlike the impulsive and paranoid Ángel Dorda, Nene is cold, charming, and calculating. His androgynous beauty — seductive in both words and glances — makes him a fascinating figure.
The story follows a gang of criminals in 1960s Buenos Aires who carry out an armored truck robbery before fleeing to Uruguay. Within this violent universe, Nene stands out for his complex and fluid affective life. The narrative shows him maintaining an intimate relationship with both Ángel and Giselle, a woman with whom he develops a genuine romantic connection.
His relationship with Ángel brims with emotional tension and mutual dependence bordering on codependency. Nene cares for, contains, and at times manipulates his partner. Together, they share a bond where physical attraction, tenderness, and affection are portrayed as something natural, visible, and fundamental. They sleep together, embrace, and grow jealous. Amid danger, they seek solace in each other’s bodies. Though never explicitly labeled as “a couple,” the label proves unnecessary.
Conversely, his relationship with Giselle reveals another facet. With her, there’s no control or strategy — only abandon. He seeks her when chaos looms, and though he knows it’s dangerous to reach out, he needs emotional refuge untainted by violence. Giselle witnesses a less defensive, more human Nene — yet never a weak one.
The representation’s value lies in its normalization. Many films define bi characters by their conflict: “Who am I?”, “Who do I love more?”, “Am I confused?” With Nene, his desire is clear, his pleasure present, and his affection toward both men and women real. This self-assurance makes him a remarkably current character, outstanding for his ability to love without relinquishing power. He’s never portrayed as less masculine for loving a man. Thus, the film avoids stereotypes where a character’s bisexuality signals weakness, betrayal, or instability. Nene remains strong, lethal, yet affectionate — even romantic at times.
If Ángel embodies the tragic figure dominated by passion and madness, Nene stands firm until the end. During the final confrontation in Montevideo, he doesn’t abandon his partner, though knowing they’re doomed. The last time we see them, they’re together in a crumbling room, embracing as if everything else had disappeared. This image — two wounded, defeated young men holding each other — is profoundly moving.
Nene’s character offers a unique opportunity to discuss bi desire through action. There are no sexuality monologues, no coming out revelations, and no labels: his bisexuality forms an integral, inseparable part of his identity — yet never reduces him to just being that.