Pine Cone

"Pinecone" is a breathtaking masterpiece that delicately unfolds the tender, passionate, and ultimately heartrending romance. Onir's masterful direction imbues every frame of "Pinecone" with a palpable sense of longing and desire, capturing the lush landscapes of Gurez Valley and the simmering tension between its protagonists with stunning visual elegance. But beyond its mesmerizing aesthetics and captivating performances, "Pinecone" is a deeply resonant exploration of love, identity, and the bittersweet passage of time. With its stunning visuals, powerful performances, and thought-provoking themes, this film is a cinematic masterpiece that will leave viewers spellbound long after the credits roll. It is a testament to the transformative power of storytelling and a reminder of the enduring magic of cinema.

Thankyou Onir for one more masterpiece!!

I watched the Pinecone premiere during the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne in August 2023. The film included some beautiful photography and its three arcs were all visually and thematically distinct, which was impressive and essential for the telling of this story.

The story felt instantly familiar and relatable yet it managed to surprise and delight at times. There is an underlying sense of sadness in the overall narrative presented but fortunately this is balanced out with a message of hope which is immensely important for the target audience, especially those in a more vulnerable state of mind.

Congratulations to director Onir and team for another stellar feature.

The film demands your full attention. I watched the most beautiful love-making scenes between two men in a hall full of high school and college students, and none of us felt uncomfortable. Instead, we rooted for the character and hoped for a happy ending, even though the film was as realistic as it came. Pine Cone has one of the most unique stories, which even the most progressive Western films on queer themes fail to portray. The dialogues and verses of poetry in the film pull your heartstrings, making me want to meet the writer and whoever inspired it.

This makes me proud as a south Asian and someone who grew up watching Bollywood, that this industry is finally cathing up in telling authentic stories of queer people.

A film that sheds light on the evolving landscape of queer rights in India... This poignant narrative captures the essence of first love, the harsh realities of cynicism, and the relentless fight for equality --- highlights the broader struggle for LGBTQ+ rights in India!!

Watching Sid Mehra's journey unfold on screen, I was reminded of my own first love-the excitement, the vulnerability, and the profound impact it had on my life. Sid's transformation from a proud, hopeful filmmaker to a cynical yet resilient advocate for queer rights resonated with my experiences of navigating the complexities of love and identity.

This film is more than just a love story; it is a call to action, a testament to resilience, and a vital contribution to the ongoing quest for equal rights and acceptance for queer folks in India.

I recommend folks from the community and others to watch Pine Cone, more for its beauty to normalise desires and a message for folks to let their gaurds down and give love another chance.

I personally liked how the movie communicated the experiences a queer individual faces in their daily lives. Very relatable.

I wished the movie didn't end, wanted to watch more and more of it. And I guess, that speaks a lot of the movie, that the audience is hooked to know "what's next?" "How do they work it out?".

I'd love to have more and more folks (out of the community) to watch this, and get a sneak peak into what it is like for a queer individual to find love whilst operating in all the constructs of the society.