Love, Simon

This is the kind of gay cinema that I look forward to and my hunger keeps increasing for such movies. A lot of people would say that this film about coming out of a gay teenage is as cliched as it gets and to be honest its true; but there is something about this film that really will connect will adults and teenagers alike. Its an emotional yet funny film about sexual identity, a film that I found will be much appreciated if promoted well. I am so glad I got to see this on the big screen.

Simon is your next door teenager with loving parents and a younger sister. He has a happy life with his closest friends from childhood Nick & Leah and a newcomer Abby. Everything in Simon’s life seems to be “normal” except he hasn’t told anyone that he is gay. One day a student with a pseudonym Blue posts an online confession about how he feels lonely about being gay in school. This gives Simon a channel to discuss his feelings with someone and he starts correspondence with Blue using nickname Jacques. One of the annoying school students Martin finds out about the secret and he blackmails Simon to help him get close to Abby. The correspondence between Blue and Jacques keeps getting more intimate and personal and Simon starts feeling close. All this while Simon also tries to imagine various people around him who could potentially be Blue, including his friend at the halloween party, the waiter at the diner and another classmate in the drama class. When things don’t work out with Abby, Martin outs Simon and his life changes forever. Blue now knows the identity of Jacques and since he is not ready for a up-heal in life, he decides to disappear. Simon comes out to his family and bravely faces everyone at school. His friends, are initially mad at him for using them to save himself but eventually they get around. Finally, Simon puts a confession on the same website declaring his love for Blue and asking him to come forward and meet him on the ferris wheel in the school carnival. The whole school waits with baited breath and finally we get to meet Blue. Life is now going to be good forever.

As I mentioned above, the film initially feels like full of cliches. I mean its 2018 in suburban Atlanta and the teenagers today are very much aware of things around them, so I found a bit odd on why Simon would not come out when he knows pretty well that everyone around him would be expecting but my views change later when he tells Martin that only he can decide when and how to come out. No one should take away his right from him. The film has its share of drama but thankfully nothing ever goes over the top and a light funny tone is maintained throughout. Myself alongwith many people in theatre laughed at loud on many dialogues and scenes and I fell that its important to not make a film very heavy. Simon as actor is brilliant. He is not ashamed of being gay. He just needs time to figure out. I liked how he handles everyone at school pretty normally and besides the two asshole students making fun of him being gay, the film doesn’t show any other unpleasantness, thereby, re-iterating the fact that people are much more tolerable this days. The focus here is more on romantic story and about friendship. All of Simon’s friends also act really well and add credibility to the story and surroundings. The movie ends with a sense of equity for each of its well-drawn kids. How I wish there were movies and education and material during my days where I could have been as open about sexuality and live it and embrace it rather than hiding it till all the way in my late 20s.

I am happy that a major big studio backed this film. We have many films on first love. Now all I need is a film that shows my gay life today or in near future. There are so many more stories to be told beyond just coming out. And hopefully those movies when made would also reach a much wider audience. Till then, everyone does deserve a good love story. (8/10)