The Inspection

Writer-Director Elegance Bratton’s semi-autobiographical film, about a young gay Black man’s desire for approval and human connection in an unforgiving environment poisoned by bigotry and toxic masculinity, this film tells essential truths about the state of queer life in America outside gay villages and other safe spaces. Films like this, inspired by true stories always hit hard and closer than fiction and the fact that the film is semi-autobiography makes it even more special to watch. Although I do have to admit that, I knew this was a true story before watching the film, but I had no clue that it was the true story of the writer/director himself.

Ellis French, is a young black gay man who has been living on the streets since he was 16. Even though he was very close with his mother, she could not accept that her son was gay and kicked her out. Even after all these years, she cannot come to accept this fact. Ellis meets his mother, picks his birth certificate because he wants to join marine. Once inside, he is bullied by his commanding officer who pushes Ellis beyond anyone's limits. But his peer, officer Rosales is someone who does a balancing act between Ellis and the other commanding officer, throughout the film. An incident happens in showers one day, where it comes out that Ellis is gay and this leads to some arguments. This is when Rosales asks him for his reasons of joining military, to which he says "he knows he is going to die and would rather die in uniform than as just another homeless man in the streets." The rest of the film focuses on his training and the pressure he gets from his superiors. Also he mistakes, officers Rosales help to be a sexual in nature and one day even dares to come closer to him in showers. But Rosales knows better and reprimands him that Ellis really knows how to fuck things up. Well, finally the recruits all succeed and on his graduation day the mother finally shows up. You would think she is proud of him and ready to accept but she puts up a facade that now he will finally have to be straight because otherwise she will tell his secret to military and they will kick him out an this is when you see how all the batch mates and officers come together announcing that it is Ellis' life to tell and not mother's.

The Inspection is beautifully shot in a way that does its best to help the viewers to relate to the main character and I have to say that the actor playing Ellis French does a phenomenal job. He makes French easy to root for, and extremely likeable, showing all his vulnerabilities. The whole training aspect of almost Ellis and others being tortured becomes to much after a while, especially since I thought some love story of sorts will develop, but I was wrong. But then there were some heartwarming moments too. The final few scenes of the film show how far French came, even though he was put through hell to get there. The words he speaks to his mother are enough to make anyone want to cheer for him, but also give him a big hug. We do see Sid bots of other recruits as well, primarily a Muslim recruit, who is shown kindness only by Ellis (since this is set in post 9/11 world). I wish there was more of a story to Rosales' character. The way he helps Ellis and supports him is good but an easily be mistaken for something more and that never gets fully clarified. Also, I have mixed feelings about the hint being given that Ellis fantasizes about his straight mates a couple of time, but I will keep my thoughts to myself for now. This is ultimately a story of struggle and personal achievement, of sheer strength of character as a relentless driving force. Ellis doesn’t intend to give up on his mother, despite her hatred of who he is, but in the film’s bittersweet finale, his new family steps up to defend him from his biological one. It’s a moment way too uneasy to be described as triumphant, which is what makes it so very interesting. And the minute you realize the film maker probably went all through it himself in a personal capacity, makes it even more interesting. (6/10)