Set in a small village in rural Romania, we meet a religious family man Dragoi and his 17 year old son Adi. Dragoi owns a substantial debt to a local village gangster Zentov. One night when Adi comes back home brutally beaten up, they go to the doctor and also file a police complaint. As investigation starts, it turns out that it was the two sons of that gangster who beat up Adi, because they saw him kissing another boy, who was a tourist and that he suspected he was gay. The gangster asks the inspector to somehow get this case under the rug. When inspector tells Dragoi who beat Adi and why, both the father and mother are shocked since they had no idea about their son's sexuality. Zentov offers to cancel Dragoi’s debts in return for not pressing charges, leaving him with a complex dilemma. Should he pursue justice for son, which would mean everyone will know about Adi's sexuality or take the payoff and allow Zentov’s sons to get away with their crime? As the story unfolds, the full extent of the village’s corruption and collective homophobia becomes depressingly clear. The god-fearing parents are extremely distressed. They even tie him up so that the local priest can perform an exorcism. When they lock up Adi in the house so he cannot do about him, his closets friend makes an official complain to child services who come running down to the village to uncover the truth. This is when everyone gets really afraid and they all ask Dragoi to convince his son Adi to not say anything. Eventually Zentov is also able to put pressure on officials to make the new officials go away, but in the process of negotiating to keep his mouth shut, Adi gets his freedom and in a finale scene leaves home without saying a proper goodbye to even his parents.
This is a very complex and emotional mix of repressed small-town family drama, corrupt police procedural, and nightmarish coming-out story, this is a compelling picture. But. The fact that it never shows the victim's perspective is a big risk. I appreciate seeing everyone's POV, but there was almost nothing said from Adi's point of view, which robbed me of another emotional connection, actually the most important connect of the story. The character may be an effective stand-in for legions of queer youths living in fear in conservative rural Romania. I mean, the whole perspective that the biggest villains were likely his parents getting exorcism and locking him up in the house, while really not doing anything because of fear of shame. It is a tricky bit, I wont deny. Showing the systemic corruption and the failure of law enforcement to uphold justice in marginalized communities, adds another level of complexity to Adi’s fight. As the film nears its conclusion, the arrival of a determined social services agent offers a glimpse of hope for Adi’s predicament. But, we never get to see a conclusion, except that Adi finally may be free of this small conservative community and do what he wants to do with his life. At the end of the day, justice is hardly something we can expect for Adi—but he gets the next best thing. Even though the film shows us the homophobia in small town in Romania, but in truth, this ignorance, these attitudes, and this violence against the LGBTQ+ community happens everywhere, in cities and towns large and small, in countries proud of their progressiveness and those hellbent on remaining as archaic as possible. Actor playing Dragoi, delivers a complex performance that perfectly encapsulates his warring feelings of love, anger, and shame toward his son. And so is Zentov, both fathers trying to do the right thing for their respective sons. The morality of it all is questionable, though. Actually, everyone does their part really well. This is definitely a very unique storyline and perspective, and a very refreshing take on it. (8/10)
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