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rahuldevnath
Reviews
Siberia and Him (2019)
Poignant
Two person in love with each other can't be together because they belong to the same sex. When Dima (Ilya Shubochkin) tells Sasha (Viatcheslav Kopturevskiy) their secret relationship is over, it leaves Sasha heartbroken. The faith of their future is decided over their far-away visit to Sasha's grandmother's place to check on her well being.
The agony of fighting one's feeling of love for someone, when you cannot help it. The struggle of choosing between what's right by you & what's right by the society. The societal norms & pressure that thrusts you deep down this dark inhumane place where the only option you are left with is to give in.
Siberia and Him captures these emotions skilfully. The way it shows the feeling of confliction is realistic. It is slow paced. It's shot in Siberian countryside which is pleasing to watch. Viatcheslav Kopturevskiy has done a great job with direction & Wayland Bell with cinematography. The acting by him and others is great as well.
Getting It (2020)
"What do you do, when you don't know what to do?"
Jamie (Tom Heard) is a cabaret singer who can't bring himself to public singing anymore because of his breakup with his boyfriend a year ago who was also his artistic partner. Jamie always puts himself first, when confronted on his selfishness by his bestfriend Elaine (Sharron Bower) he finds out, it is the same reason his boyfriend left him. To make amends and prove it wrong he took upon himself to help his young lost neighbour Ben (Donato De Luca) with whom he had a connection, which soon develops into something more over a weekend trip. But as the relationship grows Ben finds himself on the other side of what he was warned about Jamie, which hurdles thier bond bringing Jamie back to square one.
The movie uses a modern approach of a love story. The writing is good. There's a poem on the end side which Ben presents to Jamie, it's really good. The way in which the movie highlight one's ability to open themself to the possibility of love, of letting someone in is appreciable.
Matthias et Maxime (2019)
Remarkable
Matthias et Maxime is a great film written and directed by Xavier Dolan.
The film revolves around two lifelong friend Matthias (Gabriel D'Almeida Freitas) and Maxime (Xavier Dolan), starting of by their trip to one of the friends' cabin, where they are put in a situation to kiss for a film project. The kiss and the fact that Maxime will be leaving soon for Australia to start afresh life leaves Matthias conflicted.
The story then follows both of their lives rather individually in the span of around two weeks till Maxime departs, highlighting Matthias' work life and Maxime's difficult relationship with his mother.
The way in which the story captures the connection between two persons is stunning. It seems so smooth and real. As ofcourse Xavier Dolan knows what he's doing and he does it amazingly.
Lilting (2014)
Sincere and Beautiful
Lilting is a beautiful movie by Hong Khaou. It's about the relationship of Richard with his late boyfriend Kai's mother Junn, who Kai had put in care home temporarily, until he settles how to come out to her and persuade her to live with them.
Richard visits Junn at the care home after Kai dies and hires a translator for Junn to help her communicate with Alan who is another resident of care home, for their "fun" affair. As the movie forwards, things start to unfold between Junn and Richard about Kai.
It captures the agony of losing your loved one perfectly. Ben Whishaw who played Richard was just grand. And so was Cheng Pei-Pei who played Junn. It also highlights the mother-child relationship. The jealousy of a mother for her child's love and the guilt a child faces with aging parents.