The Lawyer not only dissects the reality that the LGBTQ refugee experience can differ based on the actual or perceived labels of the individual, but also asks us all to reflect on where vulnerability based on sexual orientation starts and ends when seeking refuge. BFI Flare 2020 presents The Lawyer.
Despite BFI Flare having fallen foul of the current global pandemic, we remain committed to bringing you some of the best films that were due to grace BFI Southbank this year. Following on from his 2016 film You Can’t Escape Lithuania, writer/director Romas Zabarauskas’ The Lawyer explores the interface between wealth and power in gay life while dissecting the trauma, hope and resilience of LGBTQ refugees entering Europe as two worlds collide in Belgrade.
Marius (Eimutis Kvosciauskas) is a successful lawyer based in Vilnius, Lithuania, and his life is a mix of business, casual hookups and parties. However, despite the abundance surrounding him, a creeping sense of loneliness haunts his days and nights.
On a nightly visit to an online gay webcam service, where sexual gratification can be bought or sold with little conversation, Marius finds himself intrigued by Ali (Dogac Yildiz), a Syrian refugee earning a meagre living through prostitution. His intrigue and desire lead him to ask Ali for his phone number, breaking the rules of a site where sexual activity is based purely on money and anonymity. But is Marius’ interest in Ali sexual power play? Or does Marius see himself as a liberator and saviour of the young man?
There is always an inherent risk when combining meaningful discussions on human rights with an, at times, uneasy romance. This risk is even greater when exploring the plight of refugees in finding a haven free from persecution and discrimination. Therefore, finding a film that so eloquently balances these core discussions is unusual. Here, Zabarauskas layers his story with heartfelt emotion while challenging public perceptions and unconscious bias, combining the freedom of love with the social challenges of identity, safety and belonging.
The Lawyer not only dissects the reality that the LGBTQ refugee experience can differ based on the actual or perceived labels of the individual, but also asks us all to reflect on where vulnerability based on sexual orientation starts and ends when seeking refuge. Here, countries that are seen as potential safety nets can also accelerate rather than diminish risk. However, equally fascinating is Marius’s journey, as his privilege evaporates through his connection to Ali, his self-protective bubble pierced by an understanding of the broader needs of a global LGBTQ community—an awakening beautifully brought to life by Eimutis Kvosciauskas.
The Lawyer provides us with a truly unique and visually stunning journey into what it means to be human. Here, it challenges the damaging perceptions surrounding those seeking refuge – perceptions built on the concept of refugees as victims or villains when they are heroes and survivors seeking to create a better future without fear of rejection.
Director: Romas Zabarauskas
Cast: Eimutis Kvosciauskas, Dogac Yildiz, Darya Ekamasova,
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