WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
What are the secrets that we keep? As individuals, we prize that which only we know about, aspects of our lives that perhaps we just don’t find need to make public. While there are plenty of ideals we hold close to the vest, others that should perhaps not be such can suddenly become burdens or sources of conflict. Then, when facing such things, do we choose to boldly step forth, or keep it locked in? In Australia, a vibrant young woman named Aayushi (Sakshi Singh) rushes about to get ready for her day even as the phone rings heralding a call from her Mum (Kirti Dube) in India. As the conversation turns from casual to more pointed subject matters, Aayushi’s honesty with her beloved but “prying” parent becomes more frustrating yet personally, inwardly formidable.
Next, my Mind:
As many of you have known from any number of years following my film reviews, I have never hidden the overall fact that the thematic explorations found within the LGBTQIA+ realms are not necessarily a personal preference of mine. However, what continues to absolutely, and wonderfully I sincerely add, astound me to no end is the beautiful artistry and creative potency that films addressing said arena can bring when executed by filmmakers who don’t get preachy with their message, but instead provide such relatability and deeply human emotional relevancy in the narratives presented.
So, as part of the 2020 ECSA: Escapist Cinema of South Asia online film festival presented by Jingo Media and sister festivals DFW SAFF and NYC SAFF, we once more delve into this subject matter with excellent results, starting with this 8-minute short from writer/director/producer Anoop Lokkur and producer Tiffanie-Jowie Liew that wonderfully presents a more subtle but no less impactful portrait of not just its LGBTQIA+ foundations, but the notion of just how much one secret unspoken between those we love can potentially shine a revealing light on our own inner strife, desires, and, dare we say, selfishness.
This well-orchestrated effort maintains an effective sense of palpable tension as it showcases one young woman’s struggles with not just the physical span she is experiencing in living away from home, but also the inwardly volatile separation she has now been reminded of during a frustratingly innocent yet delicately heated conversation with her mother, who has her own notions about her daughter’s life and what is (or should) come of it while meanwhile her daughter having kept a choice to herself that now bubbles over without anything directly being stated. This is what gives the film such a definitively powerful punch.
The mere fact that such lifestyle decisons are still in a place where being totally, confidently open with it can still be a source of direct or, as is the case here, indirect, implied conflict really speaks to the film’s overall purpose and necessary pertinency given the atmosphere of today’s contemporary thoughts and still somewhat hesitant acceptance of it. But, the fact that this particular story chooses to leave the ultimate ramifications of the lead character’s personal battle to conjecture, we’re left with a satisfyingly open-ended finale that likewise makes us all think in general about those things we keep from our loved ones, perhaps much more to our own detriment rather than simply coming out with it and bearing with and working through the subsequent reactions.
Singh is magical here in her role as Aayushi, an energetic, independent young woman living abroad who for all we can tell is enjoying a successful, fulfilling existence while also having found love as she’s chosen to. Yet, in one phone call she receives from her mother back in India, all she is about suddenly seems to come into question to the point of controlled but evident exasperation. Even as the conversation escalates and certain words get spoken out of her building agitation, it makes it more than obvious that the secret she’s never told to her doting, if not somewhat “nagging” mother weighs on Aayushi’s mind. It’s a focused, tangible pressure, and Singh so magnificently depicts her character’s inward discord with both understated and blatant emotional vigor.
Supporting roles are found here from Kirti Dube, in voice form only, as Aayushi’s far away Mum and Meg Spencer as Laura, the aspect of Aayushi’s lifestyle that remains its beloved yet partially hidden gem. In total, with it’s motives, themes, intent, and brilliance deftly presented with intricately placed hints that so perfectly make all known without being overtly obvious, “Long Distance” is a significant, needed tale of love and conviction of heart when it comes to being honest with those who treasure us most. It’s a moral lesson that, as hinted above, it might be better to just rip off the band-aid rather than allow even the smallest lies or other fears to fester and potentially upend our prized relationships rather than initiate understanding.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
What a candid review man
I love it