Dave says:
Set in rural Indonesia, this heartfelt short film from co-writer and director Yudho Aditya bravely shines the spotlight on arranged marriages within the Muslim community.
For it's that oxymoron of family duty and sexual freedom that dominates the narrative, one that opens with young Aris (Chicco Kurniawan) in no hurry to attend his own engagement ceremony to a girl he has no romantic feelings for. Both families are however joyous with the union and yet Aris's heart is filled with pain; one that must remain hidden. No surprise then that the words "I don't want to get married" are soon to pass Aris's lips in a confession to his English tutor and a man all but obviously gay. That their brief moments together are sweet and loving, strikingly juxtapose with the sadness in Aris's eyes - when duty comes calling.
For make no mistake, this is a powerful and truly compelling work that goes out of its way to emotionally express what it means to be gay and Muslim in a traditional society. Wonderfully played by Kurniawan, frankly it's impossible not to be moved by the shorts' close-of-play, one that poignantly reflects the pressures to succumb to social and religious conformity, over personal happiness. All of which makes for a deeply moving account of the lives of all too many gay teenagers seemingly caught in the trap of longing to explore their true sexuality, yet knowing they must honour family values and tradition. Need more be said?
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| ›› available as part of the NEW QUEER VISIONS catalogue: THE MALE GAZE - FIRST KISS shorts compilation. |
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| ›› posted: Monday, 3rd January, 2022. |
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Gay Visibility - overt.
Nudity - from the waist up.
Overall - file under ... 4 stars.
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| ›› copyright © 2022 David Hall - www.gaycelluloid.com ‹‹ |
| ›› archive reference #2022003 ‹‹ |
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