Worth: $18.00
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Cast:
Martin Miller, Teo Inama Chiabrando
Intro:
… finds its feet in its simplicity, harking back to teenage years and young love and all of the complicated feelings that go along with it. It reminds us of a time of innocence and exploration, of discovery and longing.
Sublime is an Argentinian queer coming of age story about two young men who realise that their affection for each other is more than mere friendship.
Manuel (Martin Miller) and Felipe (Teo Inama Chiabrando) are childhood friends, practically joined at the hip. They form a rock band together with some of their friends, but things become complicated when Manuel starts to develop romantic feelings for Felipe.
First time feature director Mariano Biasin does not follow traditional film tropes, allowing this story to be told with his unique style. The dialogue allows Manuel’s family to feel authentic. Their dinner table conversations flow through to the planning of the band’s new material, to their gatherings on an incredibly beautiful beach; all have a rhythmic flow and revolve around the band’s original music.
In the opening moments of the film, Manuel’s childhood birthday party is shown using footage from a home video camera, spotlighting just how alone the boy feels until Felipe shows up. A chant starts up: “Felipe! Felipe! FELIPE!”, which sets the tone for the rest of their relationship.
Miller and Chiabrando are completely believable as best friends, their seemingly unbreakable bond and affection for each other during the age of innocence is a large part of the film’s strength. The blending of music and lyrics which Manuel is writing to try and process his very real feelings and vivid dreams about Filipe, is subtle enough to not be on the nose and powerful enough to make everyone in the scene acutely aware of what is happening below the surface.
The film’s cinematographer Ivan Gierasinchuk brilliantly showcases some of Argentina’s beautiful beaches, which perfectly compliment the music and feelings of being aloof that come with being a teenager with not much responsibility. Similarly, the lighting that captures the sunlight and forest sequences is beautiful and awe inspiring.
Sublime lives up to its title, a story about the complications of figuring out who you are in your youth. The film finds its feet in its simplicity, harking back to teenage years and young love and all of the complicated feelings that go along with it. It reminds us of a time of innocence and exploration, of discovery and longing.
