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Tortu (UK)

By Golu
I have quite mixed feelings about this film. A movie about the blossoming relationship between Adam and Lucas, whose paths unexpectedly cross in the picturesque French countryside, thanks to Brexit; sounded quite interetsing on paper, plus we do not really get to see many mature gay love stories, but this film has paper thin plot, that could easily have been put in a short form narrative. Plus a lot leaves to be desired in terms of direction, which felt a bot amateurish at a lot of places. More on that later.

Tortu, a gay man in his 40s has just lost his job. Things get worse when he runs out of money, loses his home and despite his close friends trying to help him best, he is unable to get back on his feet. This is when he decides to go and stay with his uncle in a remote French village knowing very well that the visa will beveled only for 90 days. The uncle is dealing with his own issues. He had been in love with a straight man for many many years, who recently died and his son Lucas ends up coming to the village finding himself to be the owner of a large estate in the village. A chance meeting between lonely Lucas and Tortu looking for a job, brings them both together and before you know it they are in love. And both uncle and the nephew even come out to each other. But 90 days are soon over and despite Lucas asking Portu to stay back and marry him, Tortu is unsure and he returns back to UK. Distance makes heart go fonder and Tortu realizes finally how much he loves Lucas and why him and a life with him will be more appealing than a city life always hustling. He moves back to the village and the two men get married in presence of Tortu's uncle.

Even while writing this summary of the film, the film still sounds good on paper. In fact, the picturesque locations of the French village look absolutely inviting and I wish I could get an opportunity to visit this village, but only if films could do well with just that. The acting and the direction leaves a lot to be desired, especially from the lead actor playing Tortu. His expressions are more like a constipated look than any form of despair n losing job or excitement on finding love.  Also, Tortu is a very plan average man, is slow and is remotely interesting, so having three men (his close friend from work, another guy whom he meets in the city and then finally Lucas) behind him is either a joke or a delusion from the director, who barely manages to do his duties behind the camera. Lucas is still better and the uncle is ok. The makers just had no idea how to keep scenes stitched together and get its actors to act. This is an attempt at an indie film that fails largely because of incompetence of the director and some very amateurish acting. I still feel this could be served better as a short film. (4.5/10)
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