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 ...
Alex, a young man, moves back to Miami with his family after breaking up with his ex boyfriend in New York. Though it's early, he is a bit aimless and can't find a job or purpose in Miami. He feels lonely and c complains about traffic, almost hitting rock bottom and depression. He finds his father's camcorder from his childhood and starts filming random vignettes of the city and life. He eventually finds a job in the LGBTQ center. He also meets Chris online, they hook up and have a great chemistry. Alex thinks that is love again but meanwhile Chris realizes that Alex is a mess and wants to be his friend during his lonely times and support him in every way possible. Second half of the film is set against the backdrop of an impending hurricane, a clear but unassuming metaphor for the storm of Alex’s inner conflict—the whirlwind of life—upending without any sense of direction along with the onslaught of feelings that come with it.
IMO, the film is trying to make a comment on growing up, facing adulthood, and possibility of life getting messy, using Alex as its protagonist; but at the same time as a subject int feels like its just going in circles. The film starts with Alex bored to death and looking (or not) for ways to get out of Miami but even by the end of the film. it does not appear that he has grown or changed in any significant way. Maybe the film makers heart was in the right place but the final product seems clunky. The actors are all good looking, but somewhere this indie film feels like a half-baked cake. At various places, we find awkward pauses and the lead actors dialogue delivery leaves a lot to be desired for anyone to take this film seriously. Alex’s personal epiphanies, inner turmoils, and feelings of loneliness could have more of their intended impact if we aren’t told directly in every scene how much he’s bothered by them and how torturous it is for him to be in Miami. A lack of subtle and nuanced evolution in Alex’s character is what keeps Fallen Fruit from succeeding. Maybe we will see a better second feature form this budding filmmaker. (4.5/10)
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