Out in the Dark (2012)

Definitely one of my favourite gay movies of all time. The two leads had a lot of chemistry (and Michael Aloni is smoking!), which made their interactions, and subsequently love, feel real. Roy was stellar throughout the movie, and portrayed his inner conflict really well. Nimer could get a bit annoying, but after a second time watching, I realized it was because he just had a lot of fear. There's a lot of conflict in the movie due to the Palestine-Israel subject matter, and it does add a sense of gravity and darkness to the movie. It feels like a star-crossed lovers theme, but it didn't fall into clichés, as far as I could tell. The ending was also left ambiguous but those sick of sad endings for gay movies (like me grr) will be hoping for the best.Overall a great movie starring good actors who have chemistry!

I watched the movie knowing about the accusation of "pinkwashing", and having watched this movie, I have to agree to a certain extent that there is some sort of propaganda in this film. Being funded by Israel Film Fund should be a big red flag, as it had to somehow approve the script before the film got filmed. I had no idea that Israel is so gay-friendly before watching the film, but the almost rigid "Israel, gay haven; Palestine, hell on earth" seems too unrealistic, given that there are other Israeli films that say the otherwise ("Yossi & Jagger", for example). And personally I find the description of Israel as a gay haven not so credible too, given that it is a highly religious place and is somehow still socially conservative, but correct me if I am wrong. The opening of the film resembles 2011's "Weekend" a lot, as pointed out by other reviewers too. However, don't expect "Out In The Dark" to have the same emotional depth as the other critically acclaimed film - the characters in "Out In The Dark" are almost all one- dimensional. Roy seems to exist in the film only to love Nimer unconditionally; there is no attempt to explain his love for Nimer or why he would try so hard to be together with Nimer. The plot seems out of touch with reality and even ridiculous because we all know how shallow gay men can be, and without explaining why Roy is attracted to Nimer beyond his physical beauty, the plot falls apart easily. But this movie isn't all bad. Beyond the occasional gaps in the film, which require the audience's full attention to really understand the whole picture, the movie has touched on some universal topics in the LGBT+ community that we must all acknowledge: forbidden love, the fear of being kicked out and disowned by one's family, and the fragility of same-sex relationships. The main actors, though being limited by the feeble script, played the characters well and are obviously eye candies, so if you're watching this movie, you're in for a treat. I would recommend this movie because it reminds us of the fact that beyond the golden surface of the contemporary LGBT+ community, there are still people in the world struggling to survive because of their sexual orientations. And the relationship portrayed in the film, though shallow, shows the strength of what we can do if we come together in this fight towards ignorance and prejudice.

The story speaks to the very "realness" of the complexities of the human condition. Here, we have a most believable plot of two men meeting casually - and having the biggest possible outcome on their lives. The part of "Roy" is played expertly to "Nimer" and I just love how the twists and turns of the delicate situation they find themselves in, empowers, ultimately (without giving it away) a difficult situation.However, I enjoy that the end result is left largely unresolved allowing for your own imagination's participation. This means that the "effect" of the film stays with you for a while. It has also, in my opinion, humanised an otherwise impossible scenario in the Middle East and asks that age old question (if not entirely answers it), at what cost, love?I'm a fan! I highly recommend this movie whether you're gay or not you'll find something in the very human story that will resonate with you.

"Out in the Dark" tells the extraordinary love story of a Palestinian student and an Israeli lawyer. They fight against all odds , crossing all boundaries and societal rules just for love. Words cannot describe how dramatic and emotional the film really is.The film starts off light hearted, with the two guys meeting and hitting it off. They enjoy a good time until the painful reality starts to strike. How are they going to maintain a relationship that is separated by societal, cultural and geographical barriers? The development of the story is very well done. I feel for all the characters. I feel their pain and their sorrows. It is unusual for a gay film to touch on tough topics such as prosecution, espionage and the constant threat of death, and "Out in the Dark" does it in outstanding style. The second half of the film maintains constant thrill and urgency. I could hardly catch my breath most of the time.The prosecution, blackmailing and surveillance portrayed in "Out in the Dark" would be unbelievably contrived in other films, but it is so believable in this context. It is because of these very harsh conditions that make Nimr and Roy's love even more precious. It is the type of love to die for. I was in synchrony and resonance with the Nimr and Roy. I was so touched by their love and dedication for each other. Just by typing these, my eyes well up again."Out in the Dark" is an outstanding film. I think it is a must watch, and I will check out more Israeli films when I have the chance.