The LGBTQ+ community has seen significant advancements in acceptance over the last five decades, a considerable change from earlier times. Despite this progress, many individuals within the community and those in certain jobs still find it difficult to be open about who they are. They haven’t been able or willing to share their true selves with a world that's gradually become more understanding—though there’s still work to do, as recent events have made clear. This is the situation facing Lucas (Tom Blyth), an undercover police officer tasked with arresting gay men who frequent public spaces (especially restrooms) seeking sexual partners, ultimately charging them with indecent exposure. However, there's a complication: Lucas himself experiences attraction to men, which makes his job more complicated on a personal level. He also struggles with the pressure of keeping this hidden from his family, particularly his critical and homophobic uncle (Gabe Fazio). Things become even more complex when Lucas encounters Andrew (Russell Tovey) while working, and finds himself strongly drawn to him. Andrew is something of an enigma, giving off signals that keep Lucas at a distance despite the palpable sexual tension between them and the officer’s growing feelings for this mysterious stranger. The two men seem deliberately kept apart by their own choices, but they must still figure out how to deal with their undeniable attraction in light of personal and professional obstacles—obstacles which, due to several unexpected plot developments, further complicate their lives. Despite the film's seemingly realistic premise, the way the story is told leaves something to be desired, a problem stemming from a narrative and screenplay that could have benefited from more refinement. For example, the movie takes place in the late 1990s, yet the sense of fear among the main characters feels more like it belongs to the 1950s. While conditions for the LGBTQ+ community weren’t as accepting then as they are now, generally speaking, they weren't as restrictive as portrayed here. Then there are plot points that simply don’t quite fit together. When significant revelations occur, they’re often handled casually, almost like insensitive jokes instead of dramatic moments consistent with the film’s overall tone. The movie also has an inconsistent pace, with a slow and uninteresting beginning that is somewhat balanced by the second half, which is better managed. However, even with this improvement as the story unfolds, there's still plenty here that could use some work. As one of the most anticipated LGBTQ+ releases of the year, writer-director Carmen Emmi’s first feature unfortunately falls short of expectations; it would have benefited from additional script revisions before production. When a director aims to make a film with an important message, it's essential that the material supports this with a solid and accurate foundation worthy of such insight, along with well-written dialogue—both of which are lacking in this well-meaning but ultimately flawed movie.

Source on TMDB