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Futur Drei (Farsi/German) [No Hard Feelings]

This film is so real, so today and yet so poetic at the same time. There is something uniquely so pure and magical about this film that even the sometimes slow pace didn't bother me at all. Its the small little things in this film that complete the film. Youngsters struggling with sexuality and ethnic identities and their need to belong somewhere is all very relevant in today's time.

Parvis is the first generation German Iranian whose parents moved to Germany for a better life. Despite this, most people, whom he meets in clubs, never think of him as German. he is accepted bu his family for being gay but his parents are also struggling to connect with him at some level. Parvis is a bit immature and a mistake costs him community service in a refugee detention center. There he meets the brother sister duo of Bana & Amon who fled Iran and are looking for legal status. Most people at center are immediately wary of his homosexuality, except the duo. The 2 boys have instant attraction but Parvis ends up becoming friends with Bana, who keeps pushing her brother Amon towards Parvis. A beautiful love story starts developing between the two, wit Amon struggling to accept his sexuality and Parvis with his identity, since every sexual encounter with a German seems to end in some sort of racial stereotyping. Their struggle increase when Bana's refugee request is denied and she is at the risk of deportation. Parvis will do everything to keep his best friend and his lover both safe with support of his family.

This film has so many sources of conflict like homosexuality, family, refugees, migration and love, that it could easily have fallen into a melodramatic hellhole. But instead, the film maker brings to us a story about the barriers to cultural assimilation. Its not important why siblings left Iran but what they want out of their life now. And this makes Parvis re-examine what his parents went through coming to Germany after the Iranian Revolution, especially because he cannot avoid being racially stereotyped in his own country since he was born in Germany. The relationship that grows between the 3 people is just impeccable, believable and magical. Bana wants to protect her younger brother at every cost and Parvis gives a ray of hope to Amon, who by the way is the most gorgeous and beautiful actors I have seen in recent times. Amon and Parvis share a totally electrifying chemistry. Their first halting kiss in a bathtub is equal parts steamy and sweet. The way Amon and Bana unquestioningly locate home in each other beautifully evokes a foundational sibling bond, while Bana and Parvis’ relationship may have no romantic component, but it, too, plays out like a falling-in-love, like a simple echo in the blood she shares with Amon. All three actors are bloody darn good and amazing in their portrayal and that's a huge win for any film.

“No Hard Feelings” is a love story, an immigrant tale and a coming of age story for a whole generation of displaced young people. Thankfully the film never goes melodramatic. Highly recommend. (8.5/10)

Comments

Sailor Maan said…
Very interesting movie. The relationship between the 3 is really beautiful. Surprisingly, I felt Bana adds the most top the trio. That kiss in the bath is incredible. My main problem was with Parvis. I can understand he feels kindda lost between cultures but honestly he looked more like a whiny spoiled egocentric person at first for me to really feel for him.
Golu said…
You really think so? I respectfully disagree. :)
Yes he was a bit eccentric, but it was more because he is struggling to have his identity. He is neither Persian or German and this constant struggle is thhe truth of all immigrants, which I can totally relate to.
Sailor Maan said…
Haha you may be right there. His identity struggles were well handled indeed. I guess it's more the difference between him and Bana that killed it. She has no home, will be deported, she is being backmailed by the guy for false mariage etc... and still keeps a beautiful positive energy and even tries not to worry her brother by keeping her problems for herself. Parvis inner stuggles, even though legitimate, sort of pale in comparison. Actually I felt more for his mother saying her son seems oblivious of the sacrifices his parents made for him. Then the way he arrives late and have everyone wait for him on one of his first days is what made me see him as a spoiled brat.
Golu said…
Agreed. The mother-son conflict scene was very well handled. That way he did behave a little priviledged within his circle but still struggling at the country level.

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