Writer/director SPENCER COHEN’s heart-stirring feature film debut THE COMPATRIOTS, is a real labor of love. Inspired from his own life story when he discovered that his best friend at school was an illegal immigrant and his whole life in the US was at risk. Later, when Cohen was in Film School, this innocuous situation inspired him to make a film based on this, with the hopes that it would contribute to some discourse around the subject of immigration 

Cohen started this movie in 2016 during Trump’s first administration, when he threatened to abolish DACA, and so writing The Compatriots was a way to release his anxiety during this stressful time.  It is an extremely likable comedy about a very serious subject 

Closeted high school student Javi (Rafael Silva) is feeling good after pitching a no-hitter, but when he kisses his teammate, Hunter (Denis Shepherd), at the afterparty, things get awkward between these best friends. Javi’s gaydar let him down as Hunter is a ‘straight dude’. They went to separate universities, and didn’t reconnect until some 5 years later when they are returned to their home town.  Because of his illegal status Javi is now having to work several menial, jobs and get paid off the books and one of them is a washer-upper at a restaurant which ICE raids, and Javi has to hide.

Everybody in his social  circle, mainly ex school friends want to help except for Hunter’s friend Ryan (Dakota Lustick)  who is eager to help two ICE agents return Javi to Peru..

Cohen’s film puts flesh on the story focusing more on Ravi and his emotional identity and avoids the tempation  to make just another anti ICE tale.  He succeeds because of the central roles with such pitch perfect performances form Silva and Shepherd.  We are not going to even hint at how it turns as in this film’s case the finale makes for better viewing when it comes as a total surprise.

We would go as far as sayng that it’s one of the best gay theme movies of the year, but its not the only message we should take away from The Compatriots  It is also a wake up call that we need to be aware, and give as much support as we can for all those people who are undocumented and whose lives can be so easily ruined by the thugs that this Government has empowered to run rampant 

Totally Unmissable

​