F.L.Y.

Who would have thought that a truly queer film by queer filmmakers would actually have something relevant to say and say it in a genuinely heartfelt and humorous manner. This film does just that without being cloying or pretentious or stereotypical. I was actually interested in the characters. Kudos to the directors for making a film that looked much more expensively made than it actually was. The actors all showed great range and comfort with their characters making the viewing even more enjoyable. The final shot of the movie is rather spectacular and could easily have been in a great Spielberg movie. I hope to see more work from the two directors/actors.

I was able to catch this film at the Miami Outshine Film Festival and I'm so glad I did. In the first couple of minutes I found myself uncertain of its direction. The initial setup seemed scattered, leaving me wondering where the story was headed. However, once the exposition was out of the way, the film found its stride and never looked back. From that point on, it held my attention until the credits rolled.

I was really impressed with the acting of Rafael he seemed so natural in every scene. My favorite scenes where the ones with his mom and abuela. They felt so palpable and real. I'm Cuban and they remind me so much of mine. All the small characters where incredible adds to the comedy of the film. Every time the actress playing Denae was on screen I laugh. But what struck me most was the seamless blend of comedy with poignant, slice-of-life moments and how in moments I wasnt expecting my eyes will get teary.

What made it also special was how self aware the filmmakers where like the film wasn't afraid to poke fun at itself, for me this was brilliant and had me laughing hard. I couldn't believe at the end in the Q&A that the lead actors were also the directors and writers of the film and that this was their first movie. Really hope Netflix or a good streamer finds it. I hope these duo keeps making films together. Definitely a new refreshing voice in queer cinema.

It's not often that one finds a work of LGBTQ+ cinema that intentionally (and successfully) incorporates material related to personal growth and development, especially within the unlikely context of a romantic comedy-drama. However, actor-writer-directors Trent Kendrick and Rafael Albarran have done just that in their debut feature about two former partners (Kendrick and Albarran) whose envisaged brief reunion after many years apart suddenly and unexpectedly thrusts them together into an exercise in quarantining in place at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their unplanned cohabitation leads to both a look back and a look forward as they jointly and individually review where they were and now where they're going in their respective new lives. That experience subsequently prompts considerable soul searching as they each seek to come to terms with their true selves as individuals and what that may hold for the future, both for themselves and in relation to one another. In the process, they experience a variety of shifts in perspective as they come to discover themselves, often aided by an array of colorful supporting players from their present and past. And their odyssey is further fueled by a wide range of unusual and often-hilarious experiences, some related to the pandemic, some related to gay life, some tied to the world of drag and gender identity, some based on individual aspirations, and some reflected through recollections shown in flashbacks. The result is an appealing, heartwarming slice of life tale that combines all of the foregoing diverse narrative elements. Admittedly, there are times when these story components don't always mesh quite as effectively as they might have, and the picture tends to get stretched out a little too much in the final act. But, generally speaking, these varied aspects harmonize well, providing a tale unlike what's typically found in most LGBTQ+ or personal growth-oriented film offerings, an outcome that gay community members who have undergone their share of experiences of disappointment, disempowerment and heartbreak will find personally inspiring. And that point is nicely driven home when the acronym that accounts for this release's title is at last explained (an uplifting notion that I won't spoil by unduly revealing it here). "F. L. Y." is an impressive debut from this writing and directorial duo, something that we can hope we'll see more of in future projects.

F. L. Y. Immediately grabbed my attention with its quick pace, exciting intro, and engaging characters. The film weaves together a story with elements of topical struggles society has undergone from Covid to politics, romantic and familial relationships, personal identity, and discovering oneself with a level of humor that balances the deep subjects scattered throughout. The characters have depth and layers that make it easy to see yourself in and allow for personal introspection as you're being entertained the entire film. This is a film that will stay with you and you'll want to share with everyone. Highly recommend to all audiences looking for laughs and love.

Start to finish FLY feels all genuine. You can definitely listen to all it has to say so loud and clear it's hard not to pay attention. The characters aren't stereotypes and that was very refreshing, because I could see them portraying a complex actuality and not a romanticized version of life. It was very easy for me to identify myself with the struggles and reactions to LGBTQ+ community related issues that the movie taps into, but also with the worldwide context that the movie is situated on. It made me laugh and almost sob. The writer definitely managed to turn all classic rom-com clichés into heartfelt genuine moments that makes it easy for anyone to see themselves into even if they're straight. And the ending made me feel both uplifted but grounded somehow. I definitely would recommend this movie, it's an all queer movie for everyone.