Cicada picks at the affects our trauma and our past have on our current relationships. The story has a ton of depth but the acting and the script not as much.
16 Reviews
Trauma and Relationships
jeroduptown30 December 2021
Relationship, backstory, or action?
chong_an14 October 2020
In this semi-autobiographical film, two men meet in 2013 New York City and develop a relationship. The time is set by the cicada emergence in New York, and harkens back to events in the earlier 17-year cycle. However, other radio reports of the Sandusky sexual abuse case seems to place the action 2 years earlier.
Early on, there was a rapid-fire sequence to establish Ben as being bisexual. However, The short-scene technique used later was just distracting, as if assembled by someone with a short attention span.
In addition to common relationship problems - like different speeds of feelings development and degrees of outness - both participants also have prior traumas that make it difficult for each one to move forward. That is one of the problems of this film - there is too much story potential, which makes each story feel underdeveloped, especially with occasional scenes of simulated sex. I'm torn between interest in the sex and nudity, and yearning for more time for character development.
Early on, there was a rapid-fire sequence to establish Ben as being bisexual. However, The short-scene technique used later was just distracting, as if assembled by someone with a short attention span.
In addition to common relationship problems - like different speeds of feelings development and degrees of outness - both participants also have prior traumas that make it difficult for each one to move forward. That is one of the problems of this film - there is too much story potential, which makes each story feel underdeveloped, especially with occasional scenes of simulated sex. I'm torn between interest in the sex and nudity, and yearning for more time for character development.
A complicated and intense love story
roger-99-17159915 October 2020
Based on real events, this poignant and melancholic romance focuses on the complicated relationship developed by two Manhattan wounded souls, the former promiscuous painter Ben, and the African-American tomb researcher Sam. Directed by Matthew Fifer and Kieran Mulcare, from a screenplay by Fifer, who also plays the lead character Ben, the film subtly blends fiction and doc, as both men delve into a personal self-analysis, exploring their real experiences as modern gay men. Contagiously delicate and humane, it depicts the obstacles imposed by trauma against love and commitment, and how we must fight it. Highly emotional and intimate, it also points to relevant facts on racism, intolerance and abuse.
A quiet character study
euroGary15 October 2020
Warning: Spoilers
New Yorker Ben (writer/producer/director/editor Matt Fifer, who looks very much like pornographic actor Calvin Banks) is experiencing - 'enjoying' would perhaps be too strong a word - a life involving copious amounts of sex with both men and women when he meets Sam (writer Sheldon D Brown). The two immediately connect on an emotional level, helped not only by their shared physical difficulties - Ben has a mysterious illness while Sam wears a colostomy bag - but also because both have experienced unthinkable, traumatic events in their past. The relationship continues through introductions to parents and meetings with friends, and the film concludes with both young men about to share secrets with their respective parents.
As far as the acting is concerned, Brown provides a good naturalistic performance. Fifer also aims for naturalistic, but unfortunately his effort involves drawling his speech so much that at times I could not understand what he was saying, with the result I worried I had missed vital plot points, such as a full explanation of his traumatic experience and what was the precise nature of his illness. There is not a massive amount of plot, but what there is adequately fills the 96 minute running time. I am not sure the film is particularly memorable, but it is a pleasant character piece and was certainly worth watching at least once. Seen, remotely, as part of the 2020 London Film Festival.
As far as the acting is concerned, Brown provides a good naturalistic performance. Fifer also aims for naturalistic, but unfortunately his effort involves drawling his speech so much that at times I could not understand what he was saying, with the result I worried I had missed vital plot points, such as a full explanation of his traumatic experience and what was the precise nature of his illness. There is not a massive amount of plot, but what there is adequately fills the 96 minute running time. I am not sure the film is particularly memorable, but it is a pleasant character piece and was certainly worth watching at least once. Seen, remotely, as part of the 2020 London Film Festival.
Common, but nice.
arielb886 April 2022
"Cicada" isn't anything you haven't seen before. A quiet and grounded examination of a complicated LGBTQ relationship. The script could've been a bit stronger, since I guessed a lot of the storyline as it played out. Sometimes I was a bit confused about the genre... the comedic moments felt a bit out of place amongst the plot. Overall, I think this film was a really strong effort! There's loads of potential for the director and cast to springboard off of.
Excellent
mark79ga17 September 2020
When Cicada started, it felt to me like a slice-of-life tale of young love blooming in the Big City over the summer. And it is that, but so much more.
While the film deals with some heavy topics, it does so with a deft hand and balances intensely dramatic moments with humor - the way life does for all of us. One moment we can be in throes of panic from a personal dilemma, the next sharing a laugh with a friend. The subtext I read into was that personal tragedy does not have to define us. By putting in the effort to work on ourselves, being vulnerable with those close to us, and getting up every day to try again - we can live full, pleasurable lives. There is a resilient and hopeful energy current that runs throughout the film which balances the dark themes that are addressed. In my opinion, this is the mark of a skilled storyteller.
I found the performances and production style made the film feel very real and relatable. Shot against the backdrop of 2013 Brooklyn and Long Island; the visual side of the storytelling, including editing, maintain a momentum and intensity that keep your attention and draw you in. While many of the actors will seem fresh faces to most (hopefully not for long) - you'll see some more known players turning in great supporting performances.
I really enjoyed this movie at Outfest, and highly recommend it. I look forward to seeing it released on larger platforms so I can share with friends.
While the film deals with some heavy topics, it does so with a deft hand and balances intensely dramatic moments with humor - the way life does for all of us. One moment we can be in throes of panic from a personal dilemma, the next sharing a laugh with a friend. The subtext I read into was that personal tragedy does not have to define us. By putting in the effort to work on ourselves, being vulnerable with those close to us, and getting up every day to try again - we can live full, pleasurable lives. There is a resilient and hopeful energy current that runs throughout the film which balances the dark themes that are addressed. In my opinion, this is the mark of a skilled storyteller.
I found the performances and production style made the film feel very real and relatable. Shot against the backdrop of 2013 Brooklyn and Long Island; the visual side of the storytelling, including editing, maintain a momentum and intensity that keep your attention and draw you in. While many of the actors will seem fresh faces to most (hopefully not for long) - you'll see some more known players turning in great supporting performances.
I really enjoyed this movie at Outfest, and highly recommend it. I look forward to seeing it released on larger platforms so I can share with friends.
Okay
atractiveeyes1 January 2022
It has very good potentials but it could've been better. It has a beautiful story with a powerful topic but it fails in portraying it . It's very well shot and acted but the script is weak and the dialogues are uninteresting which makes it flat and boring. What's supposed to be emotional and deep turns out emotionless and dull.
Incredibly Moving
akattan-792787 September 2020
This movie is not only very well done, but tackles an issue that is often not discussed: the sexual assault of boys/men. I think the writing and acting were successful in the telling of this story and accurately depicted what it is like to live with PTSD.
One of My Favorite LGBT films in Years
cginspacegw4 October 2020
So many gay films are too light for me. Too many films about broken souls finding each other are too heavy. I saw Cicada online through Outfest LA and found a weighty LGBT film that is also a wryly funny and engaging love story about trauma survivors.
I don't want to give too much away, but both the main characters in this film have traumatic secrets and bucket loads of hurt as potential obstacles to companionship and love. One character hides his pain by being the joker (which feels very real to this trauma survivors), while the other tends to want to walk away from painful moments. Will they make it as a couple. Will they even make it on their own? Watch and find out.
I CAN say that the film seems more interested in hearing witness than it does in tidy epiphanies or huge declarations. I can also say that that the actors are sublime and make all of it complex AND real. I found myself alternating between laughing, wanting to yell at the characters, feeling floored by the emotional honesty and crying at the tiny moments of profound hope.
I don't want to give too much away, but both the main characters in this film have traumatic secrets and bucket loads of hurt as potential obstacles to companionship and love. One character hides his pain by being the joker (which feels very real to this trauma survivors), while the other tends to want to walk away from painful moments. Will they make it as a couple. Will they even make it on their own? Watch and find out.
I CAN say that the film seems more interested in hearing witness than it does in tidy epiphanies or huge declarations. I can also say that that the actors are sublime and make all of it complex AND real. I found myself alternating between laughing, wanting to yell at the characters, feeling floored by the emotional honesty and crying at the tiny moments of profound hope.
Beautiful
darren_iow-853-61650421 October 2020
Beautiful Film
info-564-1656896 September 2020
Beautiful Romance
julyvisions10 September 2020
A Touching Love Story That Feels Real, Honest, and Beautiful
elijahfarm6 November 2020
Cicada is a love story what isn't a story I've lived but it feels like I have. This is because the film is rooted in so many human truths and moments that feel plucked from real life. It deals with race, love, trauma, sex, and sexuality in ways that I haven't often seen on screen. It's doesn't immediately win you over but carefully and purposeful unfolds bringing you deeper into the story, the world, the characters. It's a film I love and I think you should watch it.
more than a film
methodman-7025214 October 2020
Seeing Cicada getting bad reviews is just frustrating, and they're probably coming from people who can not identify with the struggles portrayed in the movie.
But anyway, this movie is magnificent, great camera work and directing, really nice music not forcing but enforcing the emotions felt in the scenes, but most important the story! The story is so great and captivating, and most of all so real and human.
It's a story about the struggles, the trauma, the abuse, the discrimination, and many of us can identify in one way or another.
But it's also about finally forming healthy relationships, trying to love and accept yourself and also trying to overcome all the trauma once caused by abusive and neglectful people.
I feel so strong about this movie!! Just watch it! and love yourselves:)
Moving and real
jpcarr28 September 2020
Very touching
dave_vogel_121 July 2021
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