Ekaj (Jake Mestre) is a 16-year-old struggling to survive on the streets, having been kicked out of his home after a falling out with his hom*ophobic father. With no home or money, Ekaj has turned to hustling and prostitution in an attempt to get by. Things begin to change for the down-on-his-luck youth when he meets Mecca (Badd Idea), a cynical and streetwise hustler who takes him under his wing.
In addition to their struggles to survive as drifters in the city, Ekaj and Mecca have their problems to grapple with. Mecca is suffering from a debilitating case of AIDs, while Ekaj enters a toxic relationship with abusive artist Johnny (Scooter LaForge). As life for both men grows more complicated and pushes them to their breaking points, it becomes clear that when the dust settles, Ekaj will be forever changed.
If nothing else can be taken away from Ekaj, it's this: "indie" and "low budget" are certainly not equatable with "low quality." While Ekaj is far from an example of flawless storytelling, the film definitely establishes its own unique aesthetic. The film is beautifully shot, which helps strengthen Ekaj's overarching mood of grittiness and brutal realism. What's more is that the mood permeates even Ekaj's more lighthearted moments. While seeing Ekaj and Mecca finding joy in their meager lives will still serve as a breath of fresh air, they still carry with them the bitter reality that whatever happiness they find is destined to be short-lived given the nature of their lives, making for a weighty viewing experience that culminates in an emotionally conflicting ending.
However, when it comes to storytelling, Ekaj's deliberate pace and extensive tone-establishing shots of the gruff urban setting becomes a double edged sword. As beautiful as the cinematography is (hats off to director/cinematographer Cati Gonzalez for creating such an emotionally vibrant setting), with the deliberate pace adding to the raw, slice-of-life feeling of the film, there are moments when this pace seems superfluous and drags the film out in places where things don't have to be dragged out. This is especially felt during the film's third act, leaving the otherwise powerful conclusion at risk of losing its value.
Ekaj also begins with a disadvantage in its corner: with its deliberate pace going hand in hand with a dark and occasionally triggering subject matter, Ekaj is the sort of film that will instinctively turn away some viewers (if not for this review, it's even the sort of film I wouldn't have a personal interest in seeing. I even had to take breaks throughout the film as I watched to use lighter material as a refresher from Ekaj's dour tone). While the heavier subjects explored throughout the film are mostly either shown in brief amounts or are only hinted at, the film's atmosphere proves both a strength and hindrance. This is in no way a fault on the part of the film or its cast and crew; it only means that Ekaj's viewers need to be prepared for a film that will bring them to uncomfortable places.
The cast also adds to the intensely authentic feel of Ekaj, as no one in the film has an extensive acting history. As such, the performances have a raw bite to them, particularly in regards to the emotionally charged scenes, with this and the cinematography giving the film an almost documentary feel (which makes sense, given how the film's titular character occasionally provides narration). Jake Mestre and Badd Idea play well off of each other in their intense and occasionally toxic relationship, with both on their own shining as tragically broken people struggling to survive after being dealt bad hands in life.
Idea, in particular, gives Mecca a powerful character arc throughout the film, going from a disenchanted addict drifting through life to a compassionate man who (for all his troubles) truly cares for Ekaj and wants to help him survive their shared life on the harsh city streets. Scooter LaForge, meanwhile, is strong as Ekaj's abusive boyfriend Johnny (seemingly serving as a parallel to the flawed but ultimately well-intentioned Mecca), and Vinny Cruz uses his brief scenes to make an impact as Ekaj's hom*ophobic father.
As a whole, Ekaj is a beautifully shot film that tells a dark yet profound story that (if you're prepared for the subjects that it delves into) can provide a thought provoking experience. While the pace is poorly handled at points, the film has excellent cinematography and strong performances that more than justifies giving it a look if you're prepared for a heavier movie experience.
Score: 7 out of 10 tubes of paint.
