HIGH TIDE IS A QUIET STUNNER
Lourenço, a handsome, thirtysomething, Brazilian man, is deeply in love with his boyfriend Joe. But in a surprise move, Joe dumps Lourenço while the two are on vacation in Provincetown, MA. Lourenço is devastated and stranded in P-Town at the end of the season. With only a tourist visa, this professional man can’t officially work and survives by odd jobs. Luckily, an older friend of the former couple allows Lourenço to live rent-free in a small guest house, while the young man figures out his life. Just barely surviving, the isolated and sensitive Lourenço struggles to keep his spirits up and find direction for his now unmoored existence. However, a chance meeting with a handsome African-American man named Maurice presents new possibilities. Is Lourenço ready for to love and trust again or will he continue to live a life that he describes as “…happening without me, somewhere far away.”
Director/screenwriter Marco Calvani’s latest film, High Tide, is a quiet stunner. Oscar Ignacio Jiménez’s beautiful cinematography takes ample advantage of the watercolor-like tones of Provincetown in early September. Leisurely edited by Anisha Acharya, Calvani creates a languid contemplation on love and belonging. As Lourenço, the charming Marco Pigosi delivers a beautifully intimate and vulnerable performance, offering full access to his being with never a false moment. As Maurice, the towering James Bland reveals a sensitivity and humor that belies his impressive physique. Calvani’s screenplay drops us right into the middle of a certain kind of gay existence — upscale, self-satisfied and mostly white — yet his authentic writing also reveals some cracks in that world, including some rarely discussed issues around race and class. Oscar-winner Marisa Tomei, also an Executive Producer, does a lovely turn as a woman who befriends Lorenzo, not too far out of a relationship herself. Overall, High Tide is a lovely film that takes its time in finding its way to a potentially happy ending. Just like dear Lourenço.
stills courtesy Jacob Yakob/LD Entertainment
High Tide
Strand Releasing
U.S. | 101 Minutes | Rated R | in English and Portuguese
released on October 18, 2024
Q&A following Oct. 14 NewFest screening at SVA Theater with Marco Calvani, Marco Pigossi and James Bland (photo by Kevin Vavasseur)
