High Tide (2024) by Marco Calvani: A Heartfelt Queer Journey for Belonging

Short Summary: Finding a Port in a Storm High Tide is a tender and reflective drama about Lourenço, a heartbroken and undocumented Brazilian immigrant. Adrift in the queer haven of Provincetown, Massachusetts, he grapples with an uncertain future after a sudden breakup. As the summer season winds down, he finds solace and a profound, albeit temporary, connection with Maurice, a man with his own past to reconcile. The film is a poetic and intimate character study on loneliness, belonging, and the search for purpose.

Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16409868/

Link Review: https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/high-tide-film-review

About movie: https://strandreleasing.com/films/high-tide/

Link to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/high-tide-2024 (US), https://www.justwatch.com/ca/movie/high-tide-2024 (Canada)

Detailed Summary: A Heartbroken Immigrant in P-Town

• An Abandoned Life: The film begins with Lourenço (Marco Pigossi), an undocumented gay man from Brazil, stranded in Provincetown. His American boyfriend has left him, and his tourist visa is nearing its end. He lives in a small guesthouse provided by an older, sympathetic man named Steve (Bill Irwin) and works odd jobs to survive.

• A New Connection: Lourenço's isolated world is shaken when he meets Maurice (James Bland), a nurse from New York who is also struggling to find his place. Their romance is intense and unexpected, offering Lourenço a brief but powerful respite from his grief and anxiety.

• A Tapestry of Queer Lives: As Lourenço navigates his circumstances, he encounters a colorful and diverse cast of characters, including Miriam (Marisa Tomei), a painter who befriends him after leaving her husband for a woman, and Todd (Bryan Batt), a lawyer who might be able to help with his immigration issues. These interactions reveal the complex subculture of Provincetown and Lourenço's position within it, both as an insider and an outsider.

• Uncertain Futures: The film avoids a neat, fairytale ending. Lourenço's relationship with Maurice is fleeting, and his immigration status remains precarious. The story is more of a contemplation on a man in limbo, floating and unmoored, as he learns to find strength and hope within himself.

Director's Vision: The Quiet Power of Place and Performance In his feature directorial debut, playwright Marco Calvani sought to create a deeply human story centered on identity, displacement, and resilience. His vision was to:

• Capture the Essence of Provincetown: Calvani uses the beautiful, haunting backdrop of Provincetown in the late summer as a metaphor for Lourenço’s emotional state. The town, a haven for many, becomes a place of both refuge and profound loneliness.

• Prioritize Nuanced Acting: The director gives his actors, especially Marco Pigossi, space for subtle, vulnerable performances. The film is more about what the characters are feeling underneath what they say, making the emotions more impactful and authentic.

• Focus on a Specific Experience: Calvani delves into the very specific intersection of being a queer, undocumented immigrant, and the anxieties that come with it. He aims to show the internal and external struggles of his protagonist without resorting to melodrama.

Themes: The Search for Belonging and Identity

• Immigration and Dislocation: The film powerfully explores the precarity of being an undocumented immigrant and the emotional toll of being separated from one's home and family.

• Loneliness and Connection: Lourenço’s journey is one of profound loneliness, but the film ultimately celebrates the brief, meaningful connections that can sustain us, even in the most difficult times.

• Grief and Healing: The story is a meditation on the process of grieving a lost relationship and the slow, often non-linear, path to healing and self-acceptance.

• Love and Limbo: The title "High Tide" is a metaphor for the state of Lourenço’s life—suspended, unmoored, and waiting for the tide to turn. The film explores how love can sometimes offer a temporary harbor in the midst of this uncertainty.

Key Success Factors: A Star-Making Performance

• A Breakout Performance: Marco Pigossi’s "vulnerable" and "magnetically intimate" performance has been widely praised by critics and is considered a key success factor. He delivers a portrayal that is both melancholy and hopeful.

• Subtle and Empathetic Direction: Marco Calvani's direction is lauded for its tenderness and focus on character over plot. He has been successful in creating a film that is "sensitive" and "thoughtfully examines the queer immigrant experience."

• Stunning Cinematography: Oscar Ignacio Jiménez’s cinematography beautifully captures the moody, watercolor-like tones of Provincetown, making the setting a character in itself.

• Strong Supporting Cast: The film's success is bolstered by the talented supporting cast, including Oscar winner Marisa Tomei and Bill Irwin, who provide memorable and fully realized characters that enrich Lourenço's world.

Awards and Nominations: A Festival Favorite The film has been well-received on the festival circuit. It was an Official Selection at SXSW 2024 for the Narrative Spotlight, and was also selected for the Hamptons International Film Festival and Frameline 48 San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival. It received a nomination for a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Film – Limited Release.

Critics Reception: A Poetic and Moving Debut

• Roger Ebert: Praises the film for its "sensuously pictorial storytelling" and Marco Pigossi's "beautiful yet haunted face." It notes that the film is "a quiet stunner."

• Variety: Siddhant Adlakha calls the film "beautiful and devastating" and praises Pigossi for a "stunning performance."

• The Hollywood Reporter: David Rooney highlights the film's "sensitively observed" nature and calls Pigossi's "haunting lead performance" an "affecting portrait of untethered gay men."

• Overall Summary: The film has received overwhelmingly positive reviews, with a 100% positive rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics have applauded Calvani's sensitive direction and Pigossi's magnetic performance, praising the film for its tender exploration of complex, timely themes.

Reviews: Widespread Acclaim for a Nuanced Drama

• The New York Times gave the film its "Critic's Pick" certification, with Chris Azzopardi calling it "poignant" and praising Pigossi's "exceptionally lived-in performance."

• IndieWire gave it a B-, describing it as "sexy, sad, frank, and honest" and noting its "palpably hot" quality.

• Overall Summary: The film has garnered significant acclaim from both major publications and independent reviewers, with many highlighting its quiet power, emotional depth, and nuanced approach to a serious subject.

Why to watch this movie: A Story That Lingers

• A Poetic and Meditative Film: If you enjoy character-driven dramas that favor mood and emotion over plot, this film’s slow, deliberate pace will be deeply rewarding.

• A Star-Making Performance: Marco Pigossi’s performance is a must-see. He carries the film with a quiet intensity that is both beautiful and heartbreaking.

• Timely and Important Themes: The film tackles complex issues like immigration, love, and loneliness with a unique queer perspective, making it a relevant and thought-provoking watch.

• Exquisite Visuals: The film's beautiful cinematography makes it a visually striking experience that is both poignant and memorable.

Movie Trend: The Rise of Intimate Indie Dramas High Tide is following the trend of intimate indie dramas that focus on character studies and emotional realism rather than large-scale spectacle. It is part of a movement that prioritizes subtle, nuanced storytelling and uses film festivals and streaming platforms as its primary distribution model.

Social Trend: The Intersection of Identity The film follows the social trend of exploring the intersection of various identities, specifically in this case, being a gay man, an immigrant, and undocumented. It delves into the specific anxieties and struggles that arise from this combination, reflecting a greater societal interest in nuanced and layered storytelling about marginalized communities.

Final Verdict: A Beautifully Crafted, Emotionally Resonant Debut High Tide is a beautifully crafted and emotionally resonant film that, while quiet in its approach, leaves a lasting impression. Marco Calvani’s assured direction and Marco Pigossi’s captivating performance make this an essential watch. It is a powerful and poignant debut that finds a gentle beauty in moments of despair, reminding us that even in the most uncertain of times, there is still room for hope.