Pine Cone – A Memento!!! PK Verdict: Silver ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pine Cone – A Memento!!!

Certainly! Indian cinema has seen a gradual but notable increase in the representation of LGBTQ+ themes, Pine cone is one such Memento coming from the director well known, Onir. He yet again brings us a story that is a poignant exploration of love, identity, and societal acceptance in contemporary India. A story of Sid Mehra who has been struggling with his past, unable to sustain the present and holds a wall for the future to set-in.

Onir takes us through the journey of Sid (Vidhur Sethi), through the decades when India was navigating its way to decriminalize homosexuality. Sid was trying to find his identity. The film though starts when he is 38, although a successful film-maker, yet has become cynical about his views on love. At one of his events, he sees Ron/Rehan(Sahib Verma), the two strike a sparkling chemistry from coffee, sailing the backwaters to hitting bed. Next morning both have a drift as Sid is fighting the demons within. Onir then takes us 10 years back in the year 2009.

Here we see Sid finds his love on the dating app and falls in love with Mohit Shah alias Aamir (Amit Gurjar). The two fall in love and Sid unfolds his fears, and seeks more time together. They both too have a drift as they couldn’t cement their relationship well, hiding things from each other. Sid has a childhood story too, where the director takes us to his first encounter where Sid identifies himself as a gay, in his college days. The casting is perfect and the junior Sid essayed by Hanun Bawra looks very close to Sid and brings a good vulnerable act of finding love and losing it soon the next day. It is Sid’s long ordeal to sustain the found love that mostly is lost as soon as he finds. That’s the harsh reality somewhere Onir brings into the picture through his characters.

The film comes back to the present moment where Sid acknowledges his cynical behaviour and tries to pursue his love, this time to sustain. The writing could have been much better as the climax looks quite rushed or the transformation from cynical to optimism is instant. That one phone call conversation doesn’t really does justice to bring one the acceptance Sid longed for.

Technically the film is weak, including the direction that lacks the enhancement of the view. However, it is the genuine performance of Sid throughout the film and writing that keeps you glued. Subject though sensitive is well handled by Onir. Sahib Verma comes as a good support too as Ron.

Onir skilfully captures the nuances of emotions, portraying moments of intimacy and vulnerability with sensitivity and authenticity. The chemistry between the leads is palpable, imbuing their characters with a blend of strength and vulnerability that makes their story both relatable and inspiring. Their portrayal of the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in a conservative society is both moving and thought-provoking, inviting viewers to empathize with their journey towards acceptance and self-acceptance.

The film is in competition on the Indian language’s films segment of the Indo-German Film Festival 2024.

PK Verdict: Silver ⭐️⭐️⭐️