Four Indian men find themselves at the bloom of youth in the Netherlands, sharing their passion for cricket as part of a makeshift rec team. All gay, they navigate their queer identities within the safety net of their friendship. But when Kathir, the team’s captain, agrees to an arranged marriage in India, the treasured bond the men share is put to the test.
With a tender lens, Iniyavan Elumalai’s Pakka, which had its world premiere at Palm Springs ShortFest, viscerally captures the textures of the precious sanctuary this group of men have created for each other. His painterly 16mm visuals gush with raw feeling, as do the lived-in performances by a mix of experienced and non-professional actors. Infused with a quiet tension, the film eloquently lays bare the precariousness of existing in limbo between two vastly different worlds, one framed by tradition and the other laced with the freedom of individuality.
Iniyavan Elumalai
Iniyavan Elumalai is an India-born, Dutch filmmaker based in the Netherlands since 2011. Working from a migrant perspective, his work is shaped by living between cultures. His DPPLR-produced short film Pakka premiered at Palm Springs International ShortFest and had its European premiere at BFI Flare London. His debut short Required Reading won Best Dutch Short Film at Roze Filmdagen and was nominated for the Iris Prize. He is currently developing his debut feature film.
