Icarus

Eli has found himself in a difficult spot with his father and their pastor. An encounter gone wrong in a closely-knit religious community leads to the realization of the title of the film, the destructive consequences of playing too closely with fire, of flying too close to the sun, in the most heartbreaking way for our protagonist. He is located between a rock and a hard place, between desires he cannot deny, desires which take flight from the heteronormative conformity of the world he inhabits, and the oppressive traditionality that is expected of him.

The film brings to life a heartfelt vulnerability that is both impactful in communicating its intentions, as well as lucid in the despair it portrays. Within the framework of its brevity, the end result manages to convey all of this and some more, supported by intelligent choices within the screenplay.

The juxtaposition of a fire that empowers, the fire of desire and want for affection and touch, and the fire that consumes and burns, becomes a powerful contrast nestled within the narrative. The writing and performances further aid this attempt, ensuring that all of these ideas get realized with ease for the audience to engage with.