Luciérnagas

While in Veracruz Mexico two emigrants and a woman find their Identities and meaning of life, friendship, family...love

This sounded like a really good movie, I was anticipating it's arrival but then I started watching...Ughh!! Big mistake. I could not believe that the premise for this movie was so feeble-minded but I guess that's my own fault; it is called Fireflies. I just had a different opinion of what that looked like apparently because the only thing this movie made me aware of was the purpose behind a book called Men Are From Mars. Good Lord, just say, "I'm LOST," for Heavens sakes!!

What's amazing about Luciérnagas is how it maintains the compelling story of a drama as well as the realistic ambivalence of real life. The main character is not fully pure or innocent, nor are those he encounters easily divided into villainous or benevolent. I found the character of Guillermo fascinating and his final scene in the film very impactful.

Ramin managed to get away from Iran where he was persecuted for being gay. He ended up by mistake on the other side of the world in Veracruz far from where he wished to be. He desperately wishes to get back to Europe or Turkey but hasn't got the means.

We follow his life, toiling as a day labourer having lined up with other casual workers to be chosen by the foreman, sleeping in a seedy hotel, drinking in dive bars, furtive sex in cruising grounds. In the meantime he forges relationships with ambiguous Guillermo, himself a refugee from Central America and Leti, the hotel manageress.

Life's hard and there is a real problem of the language barrier as well as cultural differences leading to misunderstandings. We learn about the backgrounds of the three main characters and of their hopes and how they will change their futures. We see some shocking interactions as well.

The film ends abruptly and it remains for the viewer to imagine the future paths of the three. If this were a series, I'd say it ended on a cliffhanger. But it's not, so we shall never know what happens unless we write the sequel ourselves. I've done that in my head but I shan't spoil the plot by telling my version.

Saw this at the Rotterdam Film Festival 2019. Sufficiently complex story but a bit depressing after all, seeing the many obstacles Ramin must face. Gradually, he gets to know some new people, which is not always easy in a foreign country, but it happens often that they are suddenly planning to go to a better place (some real, some only in their fantasies). As a result, there are a few sub-plots proficiently woven into the story, most of them running dead for a good reason but certainly livening up the proceedings.

Eventually, we don't know how Ramin will continue his life further, which of his many options he will explore, and which he will really follow-up on. He has seen the existing freedom yet there are also some counter forces that confine his newly obtained freedom. The language is a complication as well as a plot element, demonstrated via the two-sided language lessons between Ramin and Leti, one wanting to learn Spanish and one to learn English.

All in all, the developments cover many if not all relevant aspects of the plot mixture: immigration, gay sex, building relationships, language problems, unfamiliarity with local culture, and so on. Ramin must work to earn a living, but we see no money problems and he seems to find subsequent jobs without noticeable problems, something that puzzled me. Similarly, there are several other story elements left unexplained, leaving it to us to connect the dots. It did not hamper my viewing experience, however.

Finally, when in doubt to see this movie, there is no gay sex in the story nor any male nudity. So, don't be afraid to see this movie, make way for living along with the protagonists and their real-world dilemma's. There are more than enough topics you can recognize, gay or straight or something in between.