Jeremy Borison’s film that is being screened at BFI Flare 2024 could be called the “Unspoken” secret history of homosexual persecution in Nazi Germany. The protagonist realizes his granddad had a secret relationship with another man after he dies and some family photographs show up. It takes place partly in a school, where different timelines collide as Noam falls for Jonah his partner on their shared history project about the Second World War and Holocaust while also delving deeper into their Jewish pasts and growing feelings towards each other.
Noam finds a letter and photo before his sister gets married which suggests that his grandfather knew someone called ‘M’ before moving to America from Germany, who could be this mysterious lover? With teachers and parents shutting down any talk about homosexuality, he teams up with Jonah to hunt down official records of the Holocaust and figure out who M might be. But as he enters the final weeks of high school, it becomes increasingly clear that these will also prove revelatory about himself.
The film is nicely paced at 90 minutes long, setting up context well by establishing Noam’s desire to fit in before showing how it strains against him once he starts finding his own way. When people gather for weddings or funerals (in this case both), such rituals can bring hidden truths to light among families who have been keeping silent for years while reinforcing those same traditions which Noam is expected to uphold.
Borison then takes us into a classroom world full of complicated relationships between friends including one girl whom Noam kisses but can’t really feel anything with she serves only to further confuse matters between him and Jonah, though her presence does make sense because she adds another layer of potential hurt or misunderstanding given what also happens later on. The respect that initially exists between them develops into something more personal over time; however, rather than giving them an all-out rom com ending together which would not have felt appropriate or believable, the main focus remains squarely on Noam’s journey of self-discovery.
As an actor, Charlie Korman is very likable and easy to root for as Noam he stumbles through friendships, love affairs and teenage angst about who he wants to be. There’s a real innocence about him which makes it hard not to feel sorry when his eyes are opened up not just to different sexual possibilities but also wider knowledge regarding the untold stories within his own family background and religious community. Jonah as played by Michael Zap has less screen time yet still manages being smart while adoringly supportive whenever needed; however, more could have been done with this character given how well matched Korman and Zap are together on-screen chemistry wise. Liz Richman does fine work too portraying Miriam who walks that fine line between being interested in Noam romantically but also knowing deep down she stands little chance with him.
Unspoken doesn’t throw up any major plot surprises (especially around teenage love stories) since it’s clear from early on what each character needs overcome their obstacles/doubts etc, yet there’s comfort found within its predictability sweetness at times plus Borison’s twist makes for an interesting take on this comforting genre.
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