WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
Nonacceptance. Abandonment. Spurned. Hard words with even harder impact and connotations when applied by others towards fellow human beings when misunderstanding and rash judgment become what dictate reaction to something we either don’t try or simply REFUSE to understand. Even when one might not agree with a given choice in someone’s else’s life, why would or should the answer to resolving it have to be buried in hate, anger, and prejudice? It is an unequivocal truth that in this contemporary age, the subject of those living within the LGBTQ community remains one burdened by debate, greeted by resistance, and often overwhelmed by abject malice, even violence, directed towards them. What is it to know at least some of these socially turbulent seas, in highly affecting and initially damaging ways, and then discover the means through the strife to overcome it and just BE? Ask Punjabi Sikhs Alex (aka: Amar) Sangha, Jag Nagra, and Kayden Bhangu. They don’t just understand this–they’ve LIVED it. This is their story.
Next, my Mind:
This critic has always maintained the understanding through a myriad of reviews over the years that the LGBTQ-centric exploration is not a personal favorite overall, but more often only within the parameters of exactly HOW the given project is executed. Is it meant to be, quite frankly, a more blunt, “in your face”, yet overbearing propaganda piece for the LGBTQ community OR is it more an expression of the amazingly artistic, creative, and so deeply impactful heart and soul that is found in the indie film realms and can be seen as not only confidently, unapologetically bold in the statements made in support of said community, but also accessible to those outside of it, a testament to the one most important fact that needs to be acknowledged here first and foremost–THESE ARE HUMAN BEINGS–PEOPLE–with emotions, value, intelligence, ability to constructively contribute to this world, and deserving of being, at minimum, SEEN as such, whether or not you agree with the lifestyle choice. It is the need to do away with prejudice and embrace love.
For me, this is EXACTLY what we see portrayed and delivered in this 79-minute indie documentary film from director/editor Vinay Giridhar, producer/executive producer Alex Sangha, and consulting producer Sean Farnel which had its Texas Premiere as part of the LGBTQ Programming at the 2022 DFW SAFF sponsored by Toyota USA and hosted by Jingo Media Founder/Festival Director Jitin Hingorani and Artistic Director Ambica Dev. As I’ve also stated many an instance before, sometimes nothing hits harder than witnessing REAL LIFE, and that is what we’re provided here with emphatically potent, often compellingly emotive, and persuasively relevant candor, not surprising when you’re hearing the stories you do from those who’ve had to experience the weight, challenge, ostracism, bigotry, but ultimately freedom and personal victory that coming out to family, friends, and the world has brought.
Seeing this journey through the directly shared tales starting from childhood into adulthood, Amar’s, Jag’s, and Kayden’s paths were filled with confusion over identity, bullying, shaming, isolation, depression, loneliness, familial dysfunction/nonunderstanding, and even full out rejection, plus the universal notion entertained of “is something wrong with me??”. Additionally illustrating cultural and traditional stigmas placed upon them along with societal pressures, expectations, ignorance, and judgement, each of these three individuals ran the full gauntlet of deep personal turmoil, inwardly and outwardly, weathering a completely unsettled state of being until, at least for two of them, pleasantly unanticipated astonishment made its presence known. Parents Jaspal Sangha, Rajwant Nagra and Avtar Nagra utterly bucked the trend, so sadly experienced by Bhangu (who was completely kicked out of his family for making “the choice”), by instead accepting their children’s decision and lifestyle, showing total love and commitment rather than anger.
With facades put aside and the open door of their family’s homes in place, it becomes a story of striving to enlighten the world through adoration, patience, fearlessness, education, and total conviction while aiming to help others who are facing the same hardships in coming out or simply BEING gay to find support and encouragement. Much of this, in context of the documentary, is seen through Amar’s formation of Sher Vancouver, an organization dedicated to this cause, and also is illustrated as the place where Kayden in particular was able to make the strides forward he now has since having had the opportunity to meet and be counselled by Amar. Life continues to also move on for each of these three highlighted in positive and focused ways that have manifested happiness and a renewed sense of integrity, self-compassion, and worth. The interviews with Amar, Jag, and Kayden are eye-opening, affectingly intense, quietly painful, yet admittedly inspiring, and as I hinted at above, the grander principals being demonstrated here are ones we can easily apply to any of our lives, regardless of lifestyle choice and even in spite of naturally varying opinions. We can disagree without hate, folks.
Likewise, listening to the Amar and Jag’s parents share about how their own excursions into understanding, tolerance, and undeniable love of their children is hoped to keep having an impact on others in their own cultural circles as well as anyone else who is facing the similar circumstances involving their children facing this ever-uphill battle in a world that still so often refuses to take a higher road when confront the hotbed debates that still rage around the LGBTQ community. I personally gravitated towards the basic relatability and raw emotional resonance that this documentary exudes, and it truly is unequivocally necessary to view an effort like this to ideally gain a far better acknowledgement of the struggles gay people must handle but also how it paints the portrait of our own battles with self-esteem in whatever ways we do and realize there IS ALWAYS hope to find release and validation when willing to embrace a more centered view of life, the preciousness of transparency, and discovering those safe spaces to share and heal.
There’s also an additional perspective addressed over the course of the film thanks to interviews with Jag’s brother Harv Nagra, but watch the film to know the bigger significance of his role in Jag’s journey. So, in total, “Emergence: Out Of The Shadows” successfully and with definitively purposeful, impassioned strength thrusts us directly into the initially harsh then inspirational realities encountered by the individuals it focuses on while still finding the means to speak farther-spanning messages steeped in empathetic altruism that we can only hope reaches out, changes hearts and minds, and allows for the needed transformation this world should accept and live by again. LOVE CAN OVERCOME. Not a cliche, people, just real truth.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
