Cactus Pears

Anand, a 30-something call-centre employee in Mumbai is compelled to spend a 10-day mourning period for his father in the rugged countryside of western India. He finds himself stifled by his sexual orientation, as coming out to extended family could alienate his mother from the relatives when she needs them the most. He finds solace in his childhood friend, Balya, as he accompanies him on his daily outings into the mountains to herd goats. As the mourning ends, forcing his return, Anand must decide the fate of this relationship born under duress. Wholly original in depicting queer life among the rural and lower castes of India, writer and director Rohan Parashuram Kanawade in his debut feature shares this semi-autobiographical story of two men who find each other amid their shared origins in the farming life of their elders. Featuring impressive turns from the cast, beautiful cinematography in open landscapes and small villages, and gentle, open-hearted storytelling that skews predictable tropes, Cactus Pears is a jewel of independent Indian filmmaking.