2022 SXSW FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW!
Eduardo (Hiram Delgado) is unhappy with his life, and he needs to find a way to reinvigorate his existence. Eduardo finds a retreat that allows adults to crawl back into childhood and relive their pasts once again. As he enters the retreat he realizes that his chance to be part of a happy childhood is firmly within his grasp–and he’ll pay anything for that. Homesick is Eduardo’s journey through childhood–again.
In a twisted tale of attempted rebirth, the world is exposed to something uniquely titillating but entirely weird. There’s nothing usual about writer-director Will Seefried’s Homesick, and it takes viewers on an interesting journey of self-discovery and psychological blight. You’ve never seen anything like this, and it’s likely that you’ll never see anything like it ever again–and the fact that Seefried is able to find a space in cinema that may have never existed before or ever will again is a testament to his originality.
In order to procure this unique space in the crowded world of cinema, Seefried has to find a cast and crew that can accurately convey his message and fully execute his vision. Leading the charge, behind Seefried of course, is Delgado, and without him, I’m not sure that Homesick reaches viewers as Seefried had hoped. He’s a wildly talented actor who, throughout the course of the film, doesn’t have many speaking lines, but he’s tasked with conveying an individual who, for all intents and purposes, is experiencing some mental trauma. He never breaks, all he does is build his character up in nearly silent fashion, and viewers are intrigued by what he brings to the table. Eduardo is interesting, but without Delgado’s prowess, he is nothing–and as the character digresses very quickly from adult to child, and then makes a steady transition back, Delgado conveys emotion brilliantly, and never misses a beat along the way.
Homesick is somewhat cryptic in a weird way. It’s certainly not straightforward in its approach to reach viewers, at least not in the typical sense. The strange narrative certainly piques viewers’ interests, but understanding the purpose of the story takes some time–or at least some thought. Homesick’s message will never jump up and bite you, and it will require some thought as it plays out. Even after hours of contemplating the content and attempting to decipher Seefried’s message, I’m still not sure I fully understand. However, I keep coming back to the same quote from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby when the titular character says “Can’t repeat the past? Why, of course you can.” This is the driving force behind Homesick, and it’s deliciously tantalizing for bookworms and cinephiles alike.
Originality is key to Homesick’s success, and that’s exactly what this film is–original and a success. As Eduardo’s story plays out and viewers feel more and more uneasy, Homesick begins to wrap them around its finger, refusing to let them go, and ultimately solidifying them as fans of the film. With a truly twisted story, there’s no telling who will find the film appealing, but if you’re willing to give Homesick a chance, I’d venture to guess that you’ll love it.
Written & Directed by Will Seefried.
Starring Hiram Delgado, Leslie Fray, Motell Gyn Foster, Tom Nelis, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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