Renaissance

Cicada picks at the affects our trauma and our past have on our current relationships. The story has a ton of depth but the acting and the script not as much.

Based on real events, this poignant and melancholic romance focuses on the complicated relationship developed by two Manhattan wounded souls, the former promiscuous painter Ben, and the African-American tomb researcher Sam. Directed by Matthew Fifer and Kieran Mulcare, from a screenplay by Fifer, who also plays the lead character Ben, the film subtly blends fiction and doc, as both men delve into a personal self-analysis, exploring their real experiences as modern gay men. Contagiously delicate and humane, it depicts the obstacles imposed by trauma against love and commitment, and how we must fight it. Highly emotional and intimate, it also points to relevant facts on racism, intolerance and abuse.

It has very good potentials but it could've been better. It has a beautiful story with a powerful topic but it fails in portraying it . It's very well shot and acted but the script is weak and the dialogues are uninteresting which makes it flat and boring. What's supposed to be emotional and deep turns out emotionless and dull.

In this semi-autobiographical film, two men meet in 2013 New York City and develop a relationship. The time is set by the cicada emergence in New York, and harkens back to events in the earlier 17-year cycle. However, other radio reports of the Sandusky sexual abuse case seems to place the action 2 years earlier.

Early on, there was a rapid-fire sequence to establish Ben as being bisexual. However, The short-scene technique used later was just distracting, as if assembled by someone with a short attention span.

In addition to common relationship problems - like different speeds of feelings development and degrees of outness - both participants also have prior traumas that make it difficult for each one to move forward. That is one of the problems of this film - there is too much story potential, which makes each story feel underdeveloped, especially with occasional scenes of simulated sex. I'm torn between interest in the sex and nudity, and yearning for more time for character development.

When Cicada started, it felt to me like a slice-of-life tale of young love blooming in the Big City over the summer. And it is that, but so much more.

While the film deals with some heavy topics, it does so with a deft hand and balances intensely dramatic moments with humor - the way life does for all of us. One moment we can be in throes of panic from a personal dilemma, the next sharing a laugh with a friend. The subtext I read into was that personal tragedy does not have to define us. By putting in the effort to work on ourselves, being vulnerable with those close to us, and getting up every day to try again - we can live full, pleasurable lives. There is a resilient and hopeful energy current that runs throughout the film which balances the dark themes that are addressed. In my opinion, this is the mark of a skilled storyteller.

I found the performances and production style made the film feel very real and relatable. Shot against the backdrop of 2013 Brooklyn and Long Island; the visual side of the storytelling, including editing, maintain a momentum and intensity that keep your attention and draw you in. While many of the actors will seem fresh faces to most (hopefully not for long) - you'll see some more known players turning in great supporting performances.

I really enjoyed this movie at Outfest, and highly recommend it. I look forward to seeing it released on larger platforms so I can share with friends.