Some 18 months ago Italian/American queer filmmaker Marco Calvani unexpectedly found himself staying in Provincetown for 6 months in the off season. This is the time of year when this gay mecca at the tip of Cape Cod, is completely empty of all the summer tourists and has a full time population of just 3000 souls. Its when Calvani fell in love …… with the town that is …. and the result is that he ended up writing/directing High Tide his debut feature film.
Ostensibly its the story of Laurenco (Marco Pigossi) an undocumented Brazilian who is hoping for both the return of his summer fling who had left town full of promises to return, and also to somehow renew his tourist visa. The empty town hardly lives his spirits as the only work this accountant can get is as a cleaner/chambermaid at a guest house.
His seemingly one joy is the ‘boy’ beach which even in the Fall retains its beauty. Getting there involves a long trek across the dunes, and at high tide, wading through the water, in a rite of passage that is considered a joyous part of the whole tradition. Its there, when we are getting too worried about his darkening mood, he has an unexpected encounter with African/American Maurice (James Bland)
Maurice is on the last few days of his vacation with a tight knit group of friends but in this heavily white-dominated town, is aware that like Laurenco he is also an outsider. Credit to Calvani for the subtlety of his writing and avoiding any temptation to stereotype either the guys or their situation. Plus for imbuing the story with some neat touches of humor. And I should add that both actors have remarkable chemistry together that when a romance develops it is so very convincing indeed. and a real joy to observe.
No spoilers here so I cannot tell you how this very contemporary love story pans out ….. I’ll just hint that its not that predictable, so you’ll have to see for yourself.
I’m not sure how Calvani pulled it off but for a small budget feature (shot in just 14 days) it also has a remarkable first class cast of supporting actors that included Marisi Tomei, Bill Irwin, Todd Flaherty and Tangerine’s Mya Taylor.
But even so despite their performances , and an exceptional one from the remarkably talented Pigossi, (the actual real-life BF of Calvani) the real star is Provincetown.
(But this my home town every summer, so maybe I am biased)
Labels: 2024, High Tide, James Bland, Marco Calvini, Marco Pigossi, Provincetown, review
