This Hindi movie is a pretty straightforward slice-of-life story that tries to give a modern look at what it's like to be a single, professional gay man. It dives into how he understands who he is, the chances he missed out on, and the personal choices he’s made along the way. The director used three parallel timelines to tell the story, which honestly didn't make much sense to me. While the core idea was actually pretty interesting, I really feel like this would have worked way better as a short film considering the point it was trying to make. Still, it wasn't a bad watch. The plot centers on Rachit, a city professional, and his friend Shikhar as they hang out for an evening. Rachit is a polished, urban guy, while Shikhar has more of a "small-town" rustic vibe, and you can really see the contrast between them when they talk. As the night goes on, Rachit starts thinking back to some old memories from a long time ago. He remembers being an intern after college in ...
Congressman Ignacio is doing well and also has high ambitions from his political career. He is marrying Amada, the daughter of Mexico’s President so that his new status as son-in-law of the president will help push him into new territory. The only problem is Ignacio is gay and struggles to consummate his marriage. Soon he meets Evaristo, a man with whom he is slowly falling in love with. Ignacio brings Evaristo to a secret club of high profile group of queer men that meets regularly to party, have sex, and entertain one another. Ignacio thinks he can keep the two lives separate but increasing suspicion and snooping from wife Amada, brings t he truth out. Rumors start and she doesn't hesitate to take matters in her hands and involves her father and brother. Amada wants right for her but Ignacio can't give that.Torn between angry wife, jeopardized career, and dedicated lover, Ignacio struggles to make sense of his world and future. A police raid on a a special ball at which many of the men are dressed in drag, gets all members arrested except Ignacio. The 41 men are publicly shamed and many die (as we are told later). Thanks to his father-in-law Ignacio has escaped punishment but the aftershocks of this event and the friends he lost may very well change his life forever.
The first thing you notice is the super high production values of this film. The sets, costumes, mannerisms, everything is absolutely fantastic. A lot of struggles fo LGBT community wanting to live the way to but unable to are shown very clearly in the film. In fact, most poignant scenes happen when the men secretly meet in the club and talk. This is when you realize the struggles are real. These are people who feel they have to hide away from the world to find their true happiness, and are forced to create families with people they don’t really love and put on faces for everyone else to see. Love story between Ignacio and Evaristo is beautiful and very very real. You feel for them and their pure love. Sadly, the film portrays the wife Amada as the villain but as an audience I feel that it's not really her fault. She was victim of circumstances and nothing was really her fault. She was a string women who was just not going to take shit from her husband. So in that sense, the film creates a string female character but unfortunately portrays her in a negative light. There is a lot of nudity, sex, skin in the film but never unnecessary. The film never goes over dramatic and keeps its theme and treatment very very real. Fantastic actors, great direction and just the right amount of time. The shocking ending is really sad. The torture and loss of Evaristo somehow ended up feeling like a personal loss. Amanda, without even flinching, breaks the news of Evaristo’s death to Ignacio while he sits stoned and tears up.
Displaying the humanity and tragedy of these men, their desire to live as who they were, and the consequences of that desire; this film is an absolute must watch. The beauty and aesthetic in Ignacio and Evaristo’s love story is not often seen so up close compounded with a tragedy that awaits them. (7.5/10)
Comments
A part of me can see why you would find the film boring. One problem is that it never rises beyond the basics of what it was meant to say. Regardless, I personally enjoyed it.
And of course, I would love to hear more of your comments. The is what helps me see thing sin a different perspective and get an alternate side of looking at movies.