A Moment in the Reeds

Great to see intelligent scripts and good production and direction in GLBTQI Cinema. A Moment In The Reeds, while obviously a Gay Love Story I think could an should be seen by any audience of any sexual orientation. It's a 2017 Prize Winner from Finland , partly in subtitles but mostly In English. The three actors are Janne Puustinen as Leevi the Art Student returning home from Paris to assist his moody disapproving father renovate the family and his childhood cottage in Finnish Midsummer. Boodi Kabbani is Tareq a handsome Syrian refugee who's been employed by Leevi's Dad Jouko as a labourer, even though in his own country he's a qualified architect and it's eventually obvious to Jouko not only that Tareq is highly skilled but also that Levi and Tareq have more in common than carpentry. There's much more to this film than the attraction of the young men , anyone worried about the male sex scenes note the ratings . Sex and Nudity :moderate Violence and Gore :None Profanity : None Alcohol and Drugs /Smoking :mild Frightening/Inttnce scenes : none It's contemporary setting shows the difference and difficulty of refugees trying to start a new life in a very foreign and suspicious culture and the deep rift that many Gay men experience with a parent or parents that just won't accept their children for who the are. It's interesting to me that with a some good exceptions European GLBTQ1 films are of a much higher quality and able to reflect stories that while obviously are aimed at The Queer film audiences also can resonate with any open minded progressive audience

After having viewed the captivating and enticing trailer, I was tempted to watch this film with tremendously high expectations. However, the overall effect that it produced in me was so soporific that it almost bored me to tears. Truth be told I found it a huge disappointment and I wish I could recover the two and a half hours that I wasted waiting for a positive twist in the tale, which sadly never happened. The film is a slow-burner at first and then it gradually descends into an unexciting and unimaginative storyline, which is scattered with scenes of strikingly good photography. For starters, the two main characters were hopelessly miscast for their roles, to say nothing of the father whose attitude really got on my nerves. Their overall acting is lifeless, insipid and the the two uncharismatic lovers in the reeds failed to strike a chord with me that at least could have granted me the opportunity to empathize with either of them. Then the director seems to have glossed over that long-awaited crucial moment of truth which is characteristic of LGBT films when two individuals of the same sex eventually discover their mutual sexual attraction and suddenly leap on each other with pent-up passion. In this film this is practically nonexistent: there is no previous in crescendo effervescence nor build-up of irresistible momentum, nor there is magic, sparks of excitement, fireworks. The ending of the storyline is abrupt and somewhat incongruent; it looks as though the script writer had run out of ideas and struggled to find some meaningful culmination to the film. All those apparent love feelings poured out in previous scenes suddenly evaporate into thin air, as if the two main characters had been laughing at us making us believe that their love was true. This film had all the right ingredients to have been a really good one, seeing that it has striking similarities with the storyline of God's Own Country, but sadly it fails dismally to exude the same fiery passion, which is a shame. It comes as no surprise that it hasn't won any prizes or awards after having been nominated six times in various film festivals last year.

I love how this movie pulled off something that other gay films have difficulty with. Like the movie "Weekend". It is when a movie tries to make sense of two stranger meeting each other for the first time, and for some reason they found a spark and voila~ love begins. This movie was casual in painting that narrative that it just flows and you just left drifted with it, no qualm, no questions because the way their lives collide, the small talks, the stolen glances are real. And the three recurring actors appearing the screen makes more sense, comes to life from how well they act. Even the old lady neighbor is a treat. There's so many things to appreciate from this film, other than the fact that it makes you feel present there, in that same moment, same energy, same world, even you're worlds apart watching it. A Moment in the Reeds was honest in portraying conflicted characters of father and son relationship, being an immigrant, being a university student, being a son, being away, hating the world, hating life, and the endless tug of war of those emotions versus other people's realities that ripples to you, changing your state of mind and dissuading those emotions. For example, Leevi doesn't know that his own home could feel different again because a sudden person changed that. I feel like each person in the world has their own "A Moment in the Reeds" kind of experience, when an unexpected life event or a person, just makes you feel something special in some way, even it's in the cabin, old house, a bar, or whatever. Those moment can come to you in a lightning, popping to your head in loop, rewinding without missing a bit of detail from that feeling, a moment. In fact, I believe the setting itself: a worn-out house, an almost remote countryside village, and a time-stopping lakeview and autumn reeds, sums up something that will make a moment...moment. The message weaved in the film are so subtle and deep not rubbing in your face that it's about homophobia or racism, or any kindred of hatred that's present in some LGBTQ films, but its more than that. Its' about denial, acceptance, the ugly truth of reality, the consequences of our decisions, and the ache of not having a view of our future. The way it ends is a cesspool for negative interpretations, but the future already leads you from their previous dialogues. When Leevi said after he finishes his study, there's nothing holding him in Paris but also crushed from the fact that, there is nothing left for him in the countryside. And Tareq said "I will not view this place the way you view it, this is my home now". Those exchange of ideals shows two extremes of opposing conundrums that shoves anything in its way. It means that, the answer to the question 'what happens after the ending' is simple. That's it. There's nothing for them to be. Leevi will for sure venture his life and Tareq will continue building his rough life but new home, Finland. The movie belongs to that moment, their moment. Nothing else. And that's what make it so poignant and gripping, how people don't hold the choice that the world can throw to them, that we are driven by forces we cannot control. Tareq and Leevi's lives intertwined at the right place at the wrong time, but at least it left them both with one special, timeless, forever living moment.

First of all I will say the movie is alright, but has plenty of flaws. If you're after a generic story which doesnt really get the chance to develop with the same unhappy endings most lgbt movies throw out then this is for you. The sheer fact they go from having a friendly drink, to staring at each other, straight to the bedroom after one day is baffling, but then to carry this tryst forward to an abrupt halt is bizarre. The ending ruins the experience and to me. The stereotypical bigotry from the dad was expected from the start. The fact tareq just leaves and that's that felt like i'd wasted 110 minutes for nothing. Overall, movie was alright but don't have high expectations and you'll most likely enjoy it.

student and a lover from Syria

Good movie!

Just my Personal opinion but I'd side with other reviewers here giving low rating about this film which I say it's rightfully just. Leevi went back home to Finland to help his father fix their cottage later to be sold. But obviously he has more reason than just helping his father. The movie depicted he some unresolved tension/conflict with his father about his deceased mother and another obvious is his hidden sexual orientation. His father used to hire a carpentry assistant which is a Syrian architect Tareq. When Leevi's father gone out of sight for some business matter the two men (Tareq and Leevi) found themselves indulged in sexual romance and personal recollection. The film reach its climax, it showed its beauty about the differences of culture, the personal stories of Tareq and Leevi. But as the two build a relationship they neglect their duties on fixing the cottage and when Leevi's father found an unfinished job he rage to anger cursing words. Leevis father is an unreasonable person who after all knows that his son was gay and his been aware of Tareq and Leevi relationship and much worst is he's a type of person who are not open to acceptance to some guy like Tareq, a stranger trying to fit in a foreign land. The filmmakers failed to elaborate and resolve every tension at finale of the movie. Tareq leaving Leevi and Leevi's supposedly leaving his father. Leevi's conflict with his father and sexual orientation are not portrayed to be resolve (they didn't talk about sorry and acceptance). Leevis romance with Tareq gone to thin air (its stay just like a moment and no more). Those beautiful scenes on the climax are worth nothing because of a crappy ending. So my safe advised even this film won awards (I don't care), this is an unhealthy Gay Themed film and not worth to watch, just "A moment to waste"

Great to see intelligent scripts and good production and direction in GLBTQI Cinema. A Moment In The Reeds, while obviously a Gay Love Story I think could an should be seen by any audience of any sexual orientation. It's a 2017 Prize Winner from Finland , partly in subtitles but mostly In English. The three actors are Janne Puustinen as Leevi the Art Student returning home from Paris to assist his moody disapproving father renovate the family and his childhood cottage in Finnish Midsummer. Boodi Kabbani is Tareq a handsome Syrian refugee who's been employed by Leevi's Dad Jouko as a labourer, even though in his own country he's a qualified architect and it's eventually obvious to Jouko not only that Tareq is highly skilled but also that Levi and Tareq have more in common than carpentry. There's much more to this film than the attraction of the young men , anyone worried about the male sex scenes note the ratings . Sex and Nudity :moderate Violence and Gore :None Profanity : None Alcohol and Drugs /Smoking :mild Frightening/Inttnce scenes : none It's contemporary setting shows the difference and difficulty of refugees trying to start a new life in a very foreign and suspicious culture and the deep rift that many Gay men experience with a parent or parents that just won't accept their children for who the are. It's interesting to me that with a some good exceptions European GLBTQ1 films are of a much higher quality and able to reflect stories that while obviously are aimed at The Queer film audiences also can resonate with any open minded progressive audience

The truth is that this movie is part of a trend in gay European cinema of handsome refugees falling in love or lust with a local they've been hired to work with or for. This movie came out the same year as God's Own Country, which is raised by magnificent acting, editing and a story that went beyond the basics. Unfortunately, while this is not an awful movie, it pales in comparison. The actors do their job but the lead up to their first kiss is clumsy and everything after it is just badly paced and boring and you lose interest in the story, the characters. Instead of telling the story of gay refugees in Europe, it kind of fetishizes it in a weird way. It's not unwatchable but not as good as it should have been .

This utterly predictable, unoriginal flick gets a whopping two stars from me solely because I liked looking at the Syrian character. If you are reading this, most likely you have read the other reviews which give details of what passes as a plot. (Yawn.) Several reviews also compare it to and label it - unfavorably - as a rip-off of "Call Me by Your Name" and "God's Own Country," and they are totally accurate. In particular, "God's Own Country" has set a new bar for gay films in every aspect. It is stunningly brilliant in so many ways and totally original. Strictly as a piece of good filmmaking, I have been suggesting it to even my straight friends who are OK with watching some rather graphic man-to-man sex (which is actually boring in this flop from Finland). I think it is time to move on from the ancient formula of two guys from different backgrounds or cultures fiddling with each other and having a roll in the sheets before the inevitable unhappy ending. There is much new ground to be broken, and "God's Own Country" has made an unforgettable first blow.