This indie film is a really powerful look at how a community can suffocate you and the hidden corners young people have to find just to be themselves in so many European towns, even with all the progress we've seen lately. The whole story plays out while the town is bracing for a massive, raging flood, and you just can't shake the feeling that some kind of intense reckoning or unavoidable doom is headed their way. To be honest, I didn't go in with super high expectations, but the way it’s put together makes it a seriously compelling watch. Plus, it’s not every day you get to see an LGBT-themed movie coming out of Croatia! The story follows Marko, a popular 18-year-old kid who seems to have it all—he’s got a girlfriend, he’s a competitive arm wrestler, and he’s well-liked at school. When he isn't in class, he’s usually hanging out with his brother, who has a disability, or helping his mom out in her greenhouse. Everything gets flipped upside down when a guy named Slaven ...
The name gives the impression of a usual gay love story but this one is different. Unlike most happy endings this one actually has a tragic ending and you feel for the men. Two completely different people meeting and falling for each other from different parts of society makes it an interesting watch.Maek, an assassin by profession kills 'bad people' to satisfy his bosses but cannot kill 'good people'. He is the sole support of his mother and younger brother, both of whom suffer from AIDS. The source of their infection is the abusive live-in stepfather. Maek is assigned a 'hit' and in stalking the young lawyer he is supposed to assassinate he finds an attraction to the obviously good, married, handsome Iht. When the moment comes to complete his grim duty, Maek finds out that Iht is not actually a bad guy and refuses to kill him. When his boss tries to shoot Iht, he takes the shot on himself to save Iht. Iht is compassionate and rescues Maek from the streets, taking him to his shelter to nurse him back to health. The two men bond and eventually submit to their passion. Yet when Maek recovers, he cannot face the truth of his feelings and separates himself from Iht. Iht's wife is suspicious about Iht's distance, stalks him, and witnesses a secret moment of passion between Maek and Iht, and the discovery turns her into a potential assassin herself. Iht is now by himself, unable to regain Maek's commitment until a series of events leads to the ultimate arrest of Maek: from the imposed separation caused by Maek's incarceration, Iht remains faithful to his love. And waits almost 20 years for Maek to come out of prison and in the interim taking care of his younger brother. But destiny awaits something else. Maek comes out of jail and the two men think they can finally b together but Maek is shot and killed laving Iht alone as always.
The lead characters acted very good. The only part that bothered me was that it was dark. The cinematography could have ben better but it was a big let down in that deptt. It was at times way too slow for me but I guess the director wanted to press upon the the situation of the characters that they are in. Otherwise the film does manage to strike a chord with the audience.
Could have been handled with more emotions and less artistic. (5.5/10)
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