Departures

The openly proud gay man Benji falls in love with a handsome stranger, Jake, at an airport. An immediate attraction between them, the two men enjoy a holiday in Amsterdam together. Returning to ordinary life, Benji and Jake begin monthly incognito trips to Amsterdam. However, the need to keep their intimacy on the downlow begins effecting Benji, straining the two of them. As this continues their trips become increasingly more toxic, until something changes. Departures follows Benji navigate his complicated love life and low self-esteem because of it. In addition to its sex-soaked escapades and visual flair, this story is written with care and complexity, peeling off layer after layer of what builds bonds, only to have them break. Inspired by real heartbreak, Self-funded by a collective of working-class LGBTQ+ filmmakers, this Manchester-made feature is confident, can’t-miss filmmaking.