It’s always a bold choice to tell the audience how a film ends in the first scene. But Departures does just that, opening on a contentious breakup between the two lead characters, Benji (Lloyd Eyre-Morgan) and Jake (David Tag). But this film isn’t really about their relationship. It’s about a gay man’s journey to find himself amidst trauma, heartbreak, insecurity, and some bad luck. Benji and Jake meet at an airport, both on their way to Amsterdam for solo trips. They immediately hit it off and decided to meet monthly, keeping their lives at home and their lives traveling separate. Jake isn’t looking for a serious relationship despite their clear chemistry, but Benji can’t help but become emotionally invested. The story centers on Benji as he unravels into self-destructive behavior following the split. From there, it’s a non-linear roller coaster ride, jumping between the present, the origins of their relationship, and Benji’s formative years, each providing an important piece of the puzzle in understanding such a complex character.
The most impressive part of the film’s storytelling is its mastery of seamlessly shifting the tonal balance between genuine humor and volatile relationship drama. You never feel the whiplash when switching back and forth between the funny and the emotional. That’s accomplished in part through Benji’s narration, which is acutely self-aware and oftentimes self-deprecating. But that narration also provides the audience with an important window into his mindset, including a lack of confidence and negative body image. Flashbacks to Benji’s childhood provide additional context, with a series of embarrassing or disturbing moments that clearly shaped him into the man he is today. The film is able to mine hilarity from those unfortunate periods, both through Benji’s own take on them and through some quirky minor characters that pop up in those scenes.
“…a gay man’s journey to find himself amidst trauma, heartbreak, insecurity and some bad luck.”
Eyre-Morgan and co-director Neil Ely also take some big visual swings throughout the course of the film. While some of those choices veer into superfluous territory, they certainly keep the audience on their toes, always providing something fresh and interesting to look at. The most additive of all the visual choices is a consistent use of on-screen sketches that bring a whimsical flair to each scene. Some are simply used to introduce characters or moments with on-screen titles, while others help emphasize emotional moments or add humor through Benji’s imagining of things that aren’t there. Eyre-Morgan and Ely also utilize strobe lighting as emotional catharsis, a POV camera that puts us in the characters’ shoes, an aspect ratio change, and the use of archival footage and lo-fi cameras during flashback scenes to evoke nostalgia. Not every choice works, but I appreciate the effort to move away from the visual monotony that much of today’s cinema is plagued with.
Departures is more than just a comedy or a romance. It provides a glimpse into the life of a queer teenager coming-of-age without a role model to offer guidance on how to navigate his sexuality. Through his relationship with Jake, Benji begins to realize how he deserves to be treated in a relationship and accepts the man he’s become. The ride has plenty of ups and downs, but it’s definitely one worth sticking around for.
"…more than just a comedy or a romance."
