tlagay.co.uk

Synopsis

The lesbian relationship between a pair of college students is put to the test by a jealous male sibling in this sublime post-queer romance.

Romanian college students Kiki and Alex fell in love at first sight. Although opposites on and even below the surface (provincial Alex keeps academics high on her priority list, while big city-raised Kiki is a budding hedonist), the couple has enjoyed a year-long romance so far. The girls' respective parents are clueless as to the nature of their relationship, but that isn't a problem. The only real threat to their situation is Kiki's emotionally explosive older brother, Sandu, whose connection to his sibling appears downright incestuous. Is there something going on here that's not exactly, well, kosher? Director Tudor Giurgiu adapts Cecilia Stefanescu's novel of the same name with a poetic eye, sublime erotic undercurrents, potent dashes of humor and an intelligent respect for the audience's ability to draw their own conclusions. He also takes a "post-queer" approach, making no fuss whatsoever about his characters' varying sexualities -- gay, straight, bisexual...it's all the same. Plus, he stages lovely, sensual moments between the young female lovers, including a memorable -- and real! -- ear-piercing sequence.