Out in the Dark (2012)
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Review #1,063 |
THE SCOOP
Director: Michael Mayer
Cast: Nicholas Jacob, Michael Aloni, Jamil Khoury
Plot: A drama centered on the love affair between two men on opposite sites of the Mid-East conflict: Palestinian student Nimer, and Roy, an Israeli lawyer.
Genre: Drama / Romance
Awards: Nom. for FIPRESCI and Discovery Award (Toronto).
Runtime: 96min
Rating: R21 for homosexual theme.
IN RETROSPECT (Spoilers: NO)
“I didn't plan to fall in love
with you. All I know is that I want to
be with you.”
Films
from Israel sometimes work because they share a universality, a common humanity
that everyone can understand. Something
like The Band's Visit (2007) comes to
mind. Occasionally, a more intra-cultural
effort such as Fill the Void (2012) opens
our eyes to another world of rich tradition, mannerisms and heritage. It is rewarding, but not always
satisfying.
Out in the Dark,
the first Israeli queer film I have seen, belongs to the former. Its treatment is low-key, letting the drama
unfold as naturally as possible, while giving us a pair of likable characters
who are put through some serious vilification.
Director Michael Mayer makes his feature debut, and it is quite a
remarkable picture because it is one of those LGBT films that eschews
flamboyance and dramatic power for a more sensitive tone.
Nicholas
Jacob (in his acting debut) and Michael Aloni play Nimr and Roy
respectively. They become infatuated with
each other when they first meet at a bar.
Nimr is an Palestinian graduate, seeking to do further studies in
Israel, while Roy is a successful Israeli lawyer. By bringing these two men from different
backgrounds together romantically, Mayer expands at the risk of controversy the
very nature of homosexuality across race, religion, and borders.
With the drama playing out naturally,
Mayer also cleverly sets it up as a slow-building thriller, reflecting political
tensions in the process. Nimr whose only
dream is to study hard and be with Roy becomes the center of attention not only
because he is gay, but because he is thought to pose a genuine threat to
Israeli security.
Without revealing anything significant,
we see Nimr crossing the border many times in the movie, sometimes
legitimately, at other times, illegally or forced. The acting by the two leads are excellent,
without drawing attention to themselves.
This is not surprising as Mayer’s direction is, for a lack of a better descriptor,
ordinary by intent.
Out in the Dark exists as an unobtrusive
portrayal of the discriminated and dislocated.
In a world of prejudice, misunderstanding and impurity, Nimr and Roy’s
love for each other is affectionate, pure, and we hope, continuing.
Verdict: A low-key drama about the troubled romance
between two men, a Palestinian and an Israeli, that is deftly executed.
GRADE: B+
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