Sasha is a teenager living in Cologne. The son of immigrant parents, his mother is slightly obsessed with her children bettering themselves, which in Sasha case means she wants him to become a renowned classical pianist although he needs to get into a top music school first. His father meanwhile is a bit of a traditionalist, who feels things should be his way or no way.
However Sasha has more than music on his mind, as he’s coming to terms with the fact that he’s gay, which is brought into focus when the piano teacher he’s secretly in love with announces that he’s leaving Cologne to follow his own dreams. As Sasha tries to absorb this, he sets out to tell his teacher how he feels and try to get him to stay. As Sasha tries to sort out the maze of his own emotions, things begin to spiral out of control and head towards a potentially tragic end.
Although Sasha has a tendency towards OTT melodrama at times, it’s largely an entertaining, nicely observed coming of age/coming out tale, which underlines that for some people it’s a difficult process and not everyone’s family will react well. What helps ensure that when it’s in danger of going too far it never completely goes off track are the performances, with Sasha Kekez wonderfully open and engaging in the title role. He’s a talent to watch out for.
It also helps that rather than being po-faced about its subject, the movie has a great sense of humour, and will keep a smile of your face. At times romantic and funny, at others pretty dark and dramatic, you’ll certainly never find your attention wavering.
The film has a nice sense of what it’s like to be young, gay and trying to find yourself, but unlike many coming out’ movies, realises that a young gay person has an entire life they’re trying to figure out, of which their sexuality is only part. It also isn’t a selfish as some other comparable films, which treat coming out as something that’s done inside a personal bubble and to hell with everyone. Sasha realises that for right or wrong it’s something that effects the people around someone who’s coming out, as they shift their own perceptions, prejudices and ideas of who the newly gay’ person is.
It would have been nice if the film could have been clearer with what it was trying to say about the immigrant experience in Germany. Both Sasha and his best friend are the children of foreigners, and the film hints at how the culture they’ve grown up in will almost inevitably clash with where their parents come from. However, it never really goes anywhere with it. It’s almost as if it’s a little bit too PC so keen not to be seen criticise immigrants or the immigrant experience that it mends up saying less than it could have about its interesting set-up.
However it’s largely a very engaging ride with a talented cast. It’s definitely a lot better than most gay-themed film, made by people with a keen sense of their subject. Definitely worth seeking out.
Overall Verdict: Although it nearly goes too far towards the end, Sasha is a warm, nicely observed look at the confusion of being a gay teen, and the difficulties of coming out.
Special Features:
Behind the Scenes Featurette
Deleted Scenes
Reviewer: Tim Isaac