loev (sxsw/bfi flare review) · loev (sxsw/bfi flare review) march 21, 2016 by tim isaac — leave...

Loev (SXSW/BFI Flare Review)March 21, 2016 By Tim Isaac — Leave a Comment

Sahil is a young, Indian music producer who’s getting increasingly frustrated by his boyfriend, who seemsincapable of taking anything seriously or remembering something as simple as paying a bill. When Sahil’slongtime friend Jai – who’s now a Wall Street hotshot – reveals he’s heading to Mumbai for the weekend,Sahil drops everything to go and see him.

Heading off into the countryside and then back into the city, the duo delicately negotiate their feelings forone another, trying to Hgure out whether there is something more there than friendship. However, is therepotential for love, or is Sahil – as Jai begins to suspect – really interested in the escape to a moreluxurious and exciting life that Jai’s money can buy?

Of course there’s also Sahil’s boyfriend, who turns up towards the end of the weekend with another guy intow.

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1 of 4 22/03/16 14:38

country (while the criminalisation of gay sex was ruled unconstitutional in 2009, it was recriminalized byanother court in 2013) and that is still seen as a major taboo in large parts of the country. Loev has a lotof passion and heart as it tenderly unpacks a longtime friendship that may be on the cusp of eitherbecoming something more or otherwise possibly imploding.

Unfortunately though, there are a few moments in Loev that don’t really work, where you can see whatthe Hlmmakers were trying to do, but don’t succeed emotionally or for the characters. Thankfully thesemoments don’t overpower the rest of the movie, with both the script and the acting keeping you pulled inand wanting to know where it will go.

That said, there is a scene towards the end that nearly destroys everything. It’s something a few gay Hlmshave done which, if they were done in the same way between a man and a woman, the character who didit would be considered completely irredeemable and the lack of repercussions would be seen as almostirresponsible on the Hlmmaker’s part. Although you can see the Hlm’s rationale – not least to create amoment of emotional crisis, danger and a point of no return where something has to change – it isunpleasantly extreme and some will undoubtedly feel that using it purely for dramatic purposes with noreal ramiHcations is indefensible.

I’m not 100% sure whether it is something we can overlook or not, and to be honest I don’t think the Hlmneeds it as it’s almost a crutch. All around it the Hlm is interesting, often intriguing and sometimes quitesweet. That’s particularly true early on when it’s dealing with a friendship where the duo almost revert toa childlike state when they meet. They then have to switch to dealing with their adult lives and alsoHguring out whether their playfulness is a way of not really dealing with what’s going on between then.When it’s doing that, it’s extremely well handled. This section also allows the movie to show off some ofthe startling beauty of India.

Again, after the extreme incident, it again becomes interesting and smart with a scene where Sahil, Jai,Sahil’s boyfriend and another guy all sit down for dinner and without actually saying it out loud, try towork out where they all stand (although not really dealing with what’s just happened). There’s a hugeamount of potential here and a fair amount of success, but a couple of rough edges mean it’s not acomplete success.

OOvveerraallll VVeerrddiicctt:: Often smart, charming and intriguing as it explores a relationship that may be on thecusp of becoming something more, Loev sometimes undermines that (particularly with one scene), but

Loev (SXSW/BFIFlare Review)

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2 of 4 22/03/16 14:38

RReevviieewweerr:: Tim Isaac

Loev recently had its North American debut at SXSW and screens on March 21st, 23rd and 25th, 2016, atthe BFI Flare London LGBT Film Festival.

GGaayy??

EExxcciittiinngg??

DDrraammaattiicc??

FFuunnnnyy??

RRoommaannttiicc??

SSccaarryy??

SSeexxyy??

FFaammiillyy FFrriieennddllyy??

OVERALL RATING:

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loev (sxsw/bfi flare review) · loev (sxsw/bfi flare review) march 21, 2016 by tim isaac — leave...

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