The importance of safe sex in some ways is quite under explored in the queer community so I think the message of this film was heartwarming & needed. It shows very surprising emotionally effective ways of how one might deal with the repercussions of their own mistakes.
There is quite a bit to uncover in this film. It feels very simple on the surface and both characters only talk to each other for a few seconds, but they both have quite a bit going on. The depth in Cherry's character and Cig's sorrow in the end was the biggest reason this film stood out to me so much - they weren't just two regular guys being romantic with each other. They both had their own struggles and the writing of the film showed several layers of love through these two characters.
It's also wonderfully shot with beautiful cinematography especially during the intimate moment in the flashback. The actors gave understated performances - it didn't really seem like performances to me and that I was actually watching two guys talking even if it just had minimum dialogue, I also thought the actor who played Cherry brought genuine innocence to the character.
Overall, "Cherry" is a strong short film with very simple but layered storytelling. It also had relatable characters, extremely well-done & understated acting and gorgeous cinematography.
Rating: 8.6/10 Grade: A- 👍🏻
