Lithuanian queer filmmaker Romas Zabarauskas has skillfully woven together an unusual queer romance that also packs a powerful message about the plight of LGBTQ Syrian refugees stranded in Europe, and at the same gives such a positivity to the film’s queerness.  It’s not only all very impressive,  but throughly entertaining too.

Its the story of 40-ish successful corporate lawyer Marius (Eimutis Kvosciauskas) who we first see throwing a dinner party  in his spacious penthouse apartment in Vilnius.  He is also on a very unsuccessful blind date with a trans art student, and when he and the other guests leave, a frustrated Marius goes cruising on an online hook-up site. 

Its there he spots performer Ali (Dogac Yildiz) a hunky Syrian refugee in Belgrade  and he is immediately smitten. He persuades Ali to break the rules and hand over his phone number, so they can talk directly next time.

Soon after Marius’s mother calls him to tell him that his father has just died, and although the two were estranged, it automatically provokes Marius into thinking about all the unresolved issues he had with him. 

It also spurs him on to take a trip to Belgrade and  to meet up with Ali in person, and although there is obvious chemistry between them, Ali teaches Marius about connecting with each other without just jumping in bed.  It’s one of the subtle twists that Zabarauskas has peppered through the story that sets his movie on a higher plane than other queer romances.

Both Marius and Ali have mistaken the intentions of each other and their relationship looks equally doomed as Ali’s attempt to gain a precious official Refugee Status.

Its a compelling story, beautifully told, and with such convincing and authentic performances from both Kvosciauskas and  Yildiz.

Zabarauskas is one of a very rare breed.  Not only he is a queer filmmaker in Lithuania, a country not exactly well- known for its LGBTQ cinema, but he has a refreshing approaching to powerful storytelling.  This is just his third feature, but it shows a maturity and a remarkable curiosity of how queer stories should be told.

It’s no wonder that BFI Flare Festival selected offered to give it a World Premiere, sadly delayed, but something we can look forward too. 

 

N.B. Since BFI Flare was cancelled the Premiere of The Lawyer is still to come : follow  The Lawyer on FACEBOOK for details of future screenings.