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 ...
Teiichiro is a doctor with a wife and two adult kids. We soon find out that he is having an affair with a university arts male student who also makes pottery names Umezawa. Incidentally the actors wife soon joins a pottery making class where this student is her teacher. One day when a murder happens near the doctor's clinic, a suspect is taken into custody, who also happens to be an ex-patient of the doctor. But the suspect claims that he was not near the murder site and instead he was in a different area where he had met the doctor who can be his alibi. It turns out that the said night of the murder, the doctor was indeed spending the night with Umezawa where this suspect had seen him. Fearing his secret will out, the doctor tells the cops that he was in his clinic that night and doesn't know what the suspect is saying. But soon, the guilt starts coning in. He tells everything to Umezawa but he is still sacred of coming out to the society about his affair. When Umezawa gets to know how happy the doctor's family really is, he decides to move away from his life, unless the doctor comes out of closet. But he would have none of it and in fit of rage, he ends up killing his lover Umezawa. Unable to take the guilt anymore, he eventually tells the truth to his wife, claiming that he had to kill Umezawa because he loved him. The wife who was already suspecting of her husband's odd behavior is shocked by her husband being gay and also feels cheated. She eventually kills her husband by mixing pills in his drink to save her family.
You know, there is noting great about this film honestly, but somehow the story kept me intrigued from beginning to end. The genre although kept changing from one thing to other. First I thought the film is going to be about this suspected murderer, but it soon changes to a gay love story and the love between the two men, before it again switches gear to a murder-cum-love story or murder for love (something like that). It did offer shock values but the way events were handled you don't get the shock. The killings are shown in a way, as if they are just a matter of fact. But that aside the story was interesting and a lot happened in the duration of the film. What I don't understand is the title of the film and I guess there is something I missing. I guess this film is a part of larger series, but whatever that is; it was a good watch. Acting by majority cast is pretty spot on. The film doesn't dwell on how the two men met or fall in love but its more about there situation. I wasn't too happy with how they suddenly treated the character of Umezawa. Him accepting being propositioned by another older man when he is heart broken by the doctor doesn't reflect good on his character, which so far seemed very much of a gentleman. That way, at least for the doctor it was clear that for him, his family and his image always comes first. The final act by the wife was perfect and I was like, you go gurl.!!
Overall, a decent one time watch. Nothing really memorable, but not the worse film I have watched either. (5.5/10)
Comments