Casey (Josh Lavery) escapes a small-town scandal and finds himself in Sydney. Trying to leave behind his troubled past, he connects with Tib (Daniel Gabriel) but the two men don’t really understand how to relate to one another. As Casey and Tib blur the boundaries of their relationship, and things get complicated, Casey’s past pushes him into a destructive downward spiral as he tries to make a new life for himself.
‘Lonesome’ from writer and director Craig Boreham is a film that explores the trauma that many gay people carry around with them as they try to find their place in society. Estranged from his family and trying to escape from his part in a tragedy, Casey pushes reality and his feelings deep down as he drifts his way to Sydney. Rather than confronting the reasons that his life has so spectacularly fallen apart, Casey falls into a number of sexual encounters often to punish himself for the dark secret he’s carrying around.
After meeting Tib, Casey seems to lighten slightly but falsely misunderstands the relationship he forms with his new friend. Based initially on sex, Casey begins to lean more and more on Tib, who isn’t interested in finding a long-term partner. As the two grow closer, Casey begins to fall hard while Tib continues sleeping with the parade of men that come to his door. Tib fails to understand that Casey is looking for renewed meaning and worth in his life after falling to an all-time low in terms of his self-worth and value.
The eventual reveal of Casey’s secret is as heart-breaking as you suspect it’s going to be. The situation he’s running from has caused him not only to question himself but also ponder whether or not what happened could have been prevented. Embodying the naivety of a young person, Lavery pushes Casey to try and remain detached from his actions, something that recurs throughout the entirety of the film.
The person with the hardest job in the film is Josh Lavery as Casey. The character doesn’t have a lot to say for himself and often it’s through his sexual encounters that we get to understand him. Underneath the quiet confidence, there’s a wealth of insecurity and guilt that Casey never deals with and that informs how he creates relationships with those he meets. Lavery gives Casey a puppy dog-like quality, particularly in his interactions with Tib, and audiences will likely root for the pair.
‘Lonesome’ is a strong portrayal of self-destructive behaviour and at times it can be hard to watch. Personally, I would have liked to dig deeper into Casey’s character and past, particular the relationship he has with his parents. A little more context would have made the character more sympathetic, and while the audience is largely on his side, we don’t learn nearly enough about him. That being said, ‘Lonesome’ ticks plenty of the right boxes and it’s definitely a film that is sure to turn heads, as well as showcasing the talent of writer and director Boreham.
Cast: Josh Lavery, Daniel Gabriel, Ian Roberts Director: Craig Boreham Writer: Craig Boreham Certificate: 15 Duration: 95 mins Released by: Peccadillo Pictures Release date: 6th March 2023 Buy ‘Lonesome’ now
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