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All of Us Strangers is a profoundly dark and moving exploration of human relationships, the struggles we face in maintaining them, and the deep sense of loss when they're gone. The film captures the guilt and heartache of imagining "what could have been" if life and love had been perfect, all while grounding itself in the raw imperfection of reality.

The love story is intimate and deeply comforting, offering a glimpse into how connection becomes essential for processing grief and surviving the day-to-day. Adam and Henry's relationship is tender but weighted with unspoken pain, especially as Henry's grief mirrors Adam's. It's a haunting reminder of how we sometimes take from others without realizing that love is meant to be given back. By the time this realization strikes, it's often too late.

This film is a masterful blend of grief, patience, loss, and surrealism. It beautifully portrays how love-both real and imagined-anchors us through the heaviest moments. A deeply emotional and thought-provoking watch that stays with you long after the credits roll.

Amar Prem Ki Prem Kahani attempts to break new ground in Bollywood by portraying a same-sex relationship, and for that reason alone, it deserves recognition. In an industry where LGBTQIA+ representation has often been sidelined, having a mainstream movie like this signals progress. I was excited to see a film that had the potential to bring authenticity to the queer community's relationships on screen. While the film is full of feel-good moments and is overall entertaining, it falls short in areas that matter the most when portraying a same-sex love story.

Let's start with the positives. The fact that this film was made at all is a step in the right direction. Bollywood has a long-standing history of underrepresenting queer relationships, and to see a director and production team finally take the leap deserves praise. The film's visuals are bright, the soundtrack is memorable, and the pacing keeps you engaged. Additionally, the actors are undeniably talented, with both having delivered phenomenal performances in their past roles. The emotional climax towards the end of the film, where tears are shed and emotions come to the forefront, was easily the most compelling and heartfelt scene.

But, despite the earnest attempt, Amar Prem Ki Prem Kahani doesn't quite land the authenticity that a queer love story needs in 2024. The romance between the two leads feels forced and lacks genuine chemistry. The characters behave as if they are close friends rather than romantic partners. If you've ever seen a truly well-executed LGBTQIA+ love story on screen, you'd know it isn't just about putting two men or two women together and calling it a romance; it's about capturing the nuances, the struggles, and the deeply personal emotional journey that queer individuals go through. That is sorely missing here.

One of the major flaws in the movie is that the relationship depicted feels oddly straight. By that, I mean that the dynamics, the interactions, and even the tropes in the love story feel like they've been lifted from the playbook of heterosexual Bollywood romances. Queer relationships are unique, and while there are overlaps in the human experience of love, there are aspects specific to LGBTQIA+ relationships that this film barely scratches the surface of. There's no deep exploration of their identities, no examination of the challenges queer people face. Instead, the movie sticks to a formula we've seen over and over in countless Bollywood romances - a formula that doesn't fit when the characters are queer.

The lack of romance is a huge problem as well. Even though the actors are phenomenal in their other roles, their performances here feel awkward and hesitant. It's almost as if they are holding back, and this is painfully obvious during the kissing scenes. The awkwardness of these moments is distracting. While one lead actor previously played a romantic scene with a woman convincingly, their interactions with their male co-star feel stilted, and the "kissing" scenes barely register as affectionate. You can tell the actors are moving their heads in ways that avoid any real intimacy, which completely undermines the emotion of those moments. When you are watching a love story, whether straight or queer, you want to feel the romance, but here, it falls flat.

Despite these flaws, I'm giving this film 10 stars because we have to acknowledge the courage it takes to create a movie like this in Bollywood. There's no doubt that Amar Prem Ki Prem Kahani is a fun watch - the pacing, the music, and the light-hearted moments will keep you entertained. However, it's crucial that Bollywood filmmakers understand that queer representation is not just about swapping out the gender of a romantic lead; it's about telling stories that resonate deeply with the LGBTQIA+ community. It's 2024 - we watch films not just for entertainment but to see parts of ourselves reflected on screen. Queer relationships deserve the same level of care, relevance, and authenticity that straight relationships have received for decades.

Here's hoping that this film opens the door for more realistic, emotionally impactful, and genuinely queer love stories in Bollywood's future.