Reluctantly Queer is a short film directed by Akosua Adoma Owusu.[1] The eight-minute epistolary film tells the story of a young Ghanaian man who struggles to reconcile his love for his mother with his same-sex desires. The film explores the complexity that many queer individuals face in owning and claiming their sexuality amidst relationships that do not conform with their sexual identity. The film was written by and stars Kwame Edwin Otu.[2] and it was released in 2016 with funding support from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation.
| Reluctantly Queer | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Akosua Adoma Owusu |
| Written by | Kwame Edwin Otu |
| Starring | Kwame Edwin Otu |
| Cinematography | Akosua Adoma Owusu |
| Edited by | Akosua Adoma Owusu Aaron Alexis Biscombe |
| Music by | Falcone |
Production company | Obibini Pictures LLC |
Release date |
|
Running time | 8 minutes |
| Countries | Ghana United States |
Synopsis
editWe are introduced to a young man who has emigrated to the United States of America from Ghana, and he is confronted by the reality of being in a new country. Narrated in third person he reads a letter that he has written to his mother about his time overseas. Reflective and delicate with his words he begins to describe the struggle for love that he has for his mother, alongside his romantic and sexual experiences he has had with different lovers while living in America. He does not use the word queer, but imagery is shown of him lying in bed with multiple people including men, which reveals his experiences, and the choice of words in his letter.[3]
He elaborates that even though he once could talk about everything with his mother, he never mentioned “this self” to her, he is now trying to open up. Inside, he is fearful of what she might say and asks if she would still love “this self” the same way, or if everything would change. He misses home (specifically his mother) but he also understands that he cannot return to Ghana because he will not be able to be queer there as homosexuality is criminalised.
Reluctantly Queer shows how queer individuals are forced to compartmentalize parts of themselves because of societal pressures and their upbringing until they can no longer do so anymore. It also shows how living in a different context influences how an individual expresses their sexual identity.
Cast
editKwame Edwin Otu stars as the young Ghanaian man.[4]
Awards
editThe film won the ‘Best International Short’ award at the Baltimore International Black Film Festival in 2016. At the 2016 Berlin International Film Festival, the film was nominated for ‘Best Short Film’[5] and ‘Teddy Best Short Film.’[4]
References
edit- ^ Sheldon, Kathleen (2011-12-08), "Akosua, Adoma", African American Studies Center, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0-19-530173-1, retrieved 2024-10-03
- ^ Owusu, Akosua Adoma (2016-03-05), Reluctantly Queer (Short), Kwame Edwin Otu, Obibini Pictures, John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, Carter G. Woodson Institute for Afro-American and African Studies, retrieved 2024-10-03
- ^ "Reluctantly Queer - Journal #137". www.e-flux.com. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
- ^ a b Award, Teddy. "Film Archive". TeddyAward. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
- ^ "| Berlinale | Archive | Programme | Programme". www.berlinale.de. Retrieved 2024-11-05.