Out in the dark [2012]

Some days ago (now it is June of 2014), I watched Out in the dark, film directed by Michael Mayer and premiered in 2012. I still have a kind of heavy feeling inside me (due the film), and I think it is going to spend a bit of time until I will be able to pass through the life without thinking about the small conflicts Out throwed at my arms.

Out in the dark has, as nucleus, a gay relationship (between men) in a region of traditional cultures (“Palestine/Israel”). A young psychologist student (from Palestine), Nimr, meets a young lawyer (from Israel), Roy, in a gay pub. After some days, they start dating, but, in their path, they will face some obstacles.

Although the prejudice, coercion and violence against gays in this region is an important subject to discuss to, this is not the big point of the film. It is able to see a considerable number of gay characters (not just the main) represented, and there are also scenes in which are explored the violence (physical or verbal) and the fragile condition to what the gays are subjected, but these parts of the film are not the gears that makes it keep on. I guess they are used just to explore a bigger subject: the political situation and the conflict between Palestine and Israel from the viewpoint of nuclear family life and personal dreams. Out has been categorized as a film directed for the gay public (a gay love story), after all, its nucleus is a gay relationship. However, I think the gay hillside is just a trampoline to discuss other things – and the way with what the screenplay was made and the actors worked make us have this feeling.

I do not want to say that the gay problematic addressed in the film is not important, because, indeed, that is! Nevertheless, I am back to say again, this is just an axis from what are born other discussions. Before being gays, the characters are people who live in a conflict area, where the political situation and the traditional culture prevents people to make happen their dreams (even if it seem possible). In fact, it is worse: the conflict between Palestine and Israel, that has dragged on for decades, has been draining people into illegal condition (e.g. Israelis and Palestinians cannot travel from one side to the other through the frontier as free as it should be, even if your friends, family or possibilities for job or university are in the other side; due that fact, some people has entering the countries for illegal ways).

Therefore, Out has multiples topics. It comports a more political/social side, but a gay (and beautiful) love story side too. Even, there is space for personal conflicts, as “should I give up my comfortable situation to chase a life I can say it is really mine?” (the Roy’s drama).

Out in the dark has a subtle rhythm, without variation. It has not such beautiful, dramatic and memorable scenes. Maybe this is one of the few negative points in Out. And there was space to put more strong scenes. However, I must say each scene is important. The film was well made.

The other negative point is the fact that Nicholas Jacob (Nimr) sometimes does not get a good actuation.

“Ufa!!!” (I am breathless). Perhaps I have gotten too long with this review. I am just mad, ok? "Brevity" is not my surname.

Rather than thinking of the fact that Out is a gay movie with political content, I prefer a reversal: Out is a political film whose narrative is based on a gay relationship (how the political situation can affect my private life, preventing me from living a romance?). And that is exactly what makes Out different.