Film reviews: Nino is an emotionally powerful portrayal of fear
Left: Nino, a french language film about a young man grappling with a cancer diagnosis. Right, Lesbian Space Princess, a queer sci-fi comedy-drama that explores patriarchy, incel culture, and identity
★★★★☆
Théodore Pellerin received widespread praise on the festival circuit for his performance as Nino, a young man grappling with the devastating news that he has cancer. Nino (15A), a French-language film, approaches its subject with a stripped-back, gentle sensibility, offering a deeply human portrayal of the fear surrounding a life-altering diagnosis.
On his 29th birthday, Nino visits the hospital to receive the test results. Having been suffering from fatigue, he expects to be told he has a minor condition. Instead, he receives a diagnosis of throat cancer. Owing to a clerical error, however, he bypasses the appointment in which a doctor is meant to break the news and is sent directly to a consultation about treatment options.
The error leaves Nino with no time to process the diagnosis, no opportunity for reassurance, and no chance to adjust to the reality of what lies ahead: He is due to begin chemotherapy in three days.
Stunned, he drifts aimlessly through Paris, struggling to share the news with those closest to him. He cannot bring himself to tell his mother. He only just manages to tell his best friend before fleeing, overwhelmed by the enormity of what he is facing.
A chance meeting with an old friend brings a chink of light into his life and the realisation that he still has hope.
There are no dramatic outbursts. Pellerin’s subtle portrayal gives the film much of its emotional power, allowing the audience to feel the weight of Nino’s experience without ever resorting to mel
- Cinematic release
★★★★☆
Despite being raised with confidence and flamboyance, Saira does not quite fit in. Her parents, the planet’s bold and theatrical queens, are everything she is not: Expressive and self-assured. Saira, by contrast, is plagued by insecurity and struggles with low self-esteem, unable to find a girlfriend or feel comfortable in her own identity.
When she begins a relationship with Kiki (Bernie Van Tiel), Saira believes she has finally found love. But the relationship ends after just two weeks, leaving her heartbroken and more uncertain than ever. Desperate to prove herself and find a sense of belonging, Saira is unexpectedly thrust into an intergalactic adventure when Kiki is kidnapped by the so-called ‘Straight White Maliens’, a race of extraterrestrial incels.
If Saira can rescue her ex, she may not only earn her place as a hero but also win back the relationship she still longs for. But does she really need Kiki or just to learn to love herself?
With Rick-and-Morty-style animation, Australian co-writers/directors Emma Hough Hobbs and Leela Varghese cleverly blend commentary on patriarchy, incel culture, and identity, all while delivering a stream of bold, frequently hilarious jokes. It will not be for everyone but for some it will be a blast.
- Limited cinematic release
