Pakka
Iniyavan Elumalai
2025, 18 mins.
Love strikes out, for now
Here’s a quartet of happily gay Indian cricketeers, led by bearded captain Kathir (Chirag Lobo). The training in Holland is going well until the boss man suddenly announces his departure back home for an arranged marriage with “a girl”. No one is more upset/stunned with this unexpected turn of events than presumed lover, Jiva (quietly done by smooth-shaven Atharv Dhiman).
With Vasu (Kymo de Valk) summarily appointed as Kathir’s replacement, the three remaining queers go about their practice, but it seems the spark has vanished.
An “Oh well, why not?” bachelor party lets off some smouldering steam, yet can’t alleviate Jiva’s sense of loss off the field to family tradition.
After one last toss, Kathir’s disappearance from the pitch only whets the appetite for the sequel to see if he can recover from his own goal as one and all discover if the steadfast love of god never ceases, lavender style. JWR
Not Today
Christian Meola
2025, 17 mins.
What to do when “something seems off”
Love fuelled by understanding comes in many sizes, shapes and forms. That can be especially challenging when witnessing someone you care about and thought you knew who suddenly scares the hell out of you when witnessing an—apparently—personal moment.
As does Eric (Eric Ramos showing screen chops that speak well for future roles) while retrieving his cellphone only to observe best bud Jaime (Jaime Leal demonstrating a quiet affability that can readily cover up hidden demons), revealing a disturbing dark side that few can comprehend.
What’s a buddy possibly hoping for more to do? Even the mists of an oblivious crowd in a hot tub can’t offer any sort of way forward. As well, Mom is no further ahead, yet let’s hope something brings on a call to action before all is not said but certainly lost. JWR
How Was Your Weekend?
Cam Banfield
2025, 10 mins.
Maybe we should all work from home
Poor Steven (James Morosini gamely up to all that is asked of him), with his girlfriend announcing a timeout via voice mail, he, nonetheless, puts on a brave face and heads into the office a few hours later, only to endure the (most likely) steady stream of Monday morning greetings from his coworkers.
But things soon go decidedly south when the beleaguered employee defies protocol and tells one and all—in the coffee line no less!—the truth of his miserable time away from his office family.
It’s fun for a few minutes until any of us can recall a time in their work lives spitting out platitudes only made their internal turmoil feel much worse.
Short, not so sweet, but certainly timely in these days of so many companies dragging their employees back into the theatre of the absurd. JWR