We Will Never Belong

We Will Never Belong is most powerful in its small moments. This film moves you using a multi-sensory but particularly tactile focus. Its story of internalized shame and coming of age is one that at once feels very modern, but effortlessly timeless.

The film begins when teenager Emi comes to live with her father and his new wife. Emi is distant with her mother. You see, Emi’s mother is openly gay which causes problems in Emi’s own life, especially at school. Now living with her father, Emi bonds with her new step-mother. She also bonds with her step-mother’s daughter, Gala. Gala is of similar age to Emi and effortlessly cool. Emi’s feelings for Gala soon go beyond friendship. But her relationship with her mother and her mother’s sexuality causes Emi turmoil.

We Will Never Belong is a brilliantly tactile movie. For a medium that you can’t actually touch, that’s quite the accomplishment. Aspects like sounds and especially lighting are also standouts in the film. But its strongest sensory focus is often touch. Small moments of intimacy loom large in the film. The film goes out of its way to provide moments of texture for Emi to interact with. Scenes of her running her hands over a fur coat, new lingerie and her own body feel as real as if the audience was doing it themself.

The film is extraordinarily good at allowing the viewer entry into Emi’s head. She is often quiet, but We Will Never Belong doesn’t need Emi to speak to be understood. Keeping the point of view in her eyes consistently allows us to engage with Emi’s individual view of the world. Without lengthy dialogue, we know how Emi feels about her family members and how she sees her life at large. Such care surely went into this film’s visuals and story. Yet it feels so effortless to slip into Emi’s worldview.

Some of the aspects of We Will Never Belong are undoubtedly modern. Stylistically, its focus on so-called “bisexual lighting” to represent youth and nightlife is undoubtedly part of a current trend. Emi’s angst at her mother living openly with a woman is also an incredibly current story. But in addition to these touches of modernity, there is so much that is timeless. So many of Emi’s youthful experiences could happen in any generation. Her attraction to Gala is universal. The way Emi looks at her, feels strongly when Gala touches her and simply wants her is something relatable regardless of sexuality. We Will Never Belong has universal, timeless themes. Sometimes, they’re updated to be distinctly modern. But so much of this film is about timless human experience.

We Will Never Belong is a huge success. Director Amelia Eloisa has constructed not just characters but a multi-sensory world. Her self-assured cinematography and focus on sensory experiences makes this film beautiful and emotional. The last montage in particular is moving, beautiful and a great final note for such a stylistic triumph.

Overall rating: 7.6/10

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