Contrary to what its title may suggest, the journey at the core of “Oriented” is not solely for acceptance of sexual orientation. Rather, the film finds its subjects confusingly unique at times but unique nonetheless, seeking individuality as a whole. Each comes with a wide array of labels, backgrounds and preferences, sexual, regional, and more — complicated, as people often are. Sure they go through similar trials and spend a lot of time together, but their journeys are much more personal endeavors.
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Khader Abu Seif, living with his Jewish boyfriend and his dog, is generally accepted in his society. He is aided by two friends: Fadi Daeem, a Palestinian nationalist, also accepted to his loved ones but guilt-ridden after falling in love with an American-Jew fighting in the Israeli Army, and Naeem Jeryes, who has yet to come out of the closet to his parents. Together, the three start a production company and set out with a viral marketing campaign in order to garner more awareness for this new generation of Palestinians.
Early on, the film denies itself any cheap pathos that comes with stereotypes of the region by addressing audience anticipation, specifically that this would be about being gay in the conservative Middle East. Khader, addressing a group of LGBT Arabs, relates an anecdote in which a BBC reporter queries him on the suffering that Khader had to endure in his home-region. He laughs, and clears the elephant within the film: “I think you’re speaking to the wrong guy,” before continuing about how accepted and happy he is. Director Jake Witzenfield sets his sights higher.
Witzenfield allows us to forget that these young men are subjects in a documentary, but rather people as well, passionate but simultaneously aloof. In adopting this laid back and honest style, however, the film, with its glistening white walls and depictions of fun, feels a bit too sanitized and non-crucial. Similarly, although the film is often intimate, many scenes feel oddly cinematic. Moments in which the group converse with each other feel as if they were recreated, or at least rehearsed, with edits aplenty and an almost script-like precision. Though the reality of the situation prevails and the characters do remain well-defined, there is an unshakable artificiality that lingers, as if the film’s vérité style has backfired.
“Oriented” certainly feels like an aimless documentary at times, but its moral is defined not by the specifics of each character’s situation, but rather the idea that they are different in general. It is easy to get lost in the politics of the situation — the lingo and cultural context is a tough swallow for those unfamiliar — though the film is not entirely politically charged, and fairly light at that (it clocks in at a short 76 minutes). Still, even if it is a tough sit at times; even if its aftertaste is unsatisfyingly the abstract and singular notion that identity is not black and white but rather what you make of it, “Oriented” and the three lives it presents are fascinating to witness and explore. (B-)
“Oriented” is out now on iTunes.