Funny Boy

Adapted from Shyam Selvaduri's novel of the same name, director Deepa Mehta's imbues the story of a boy coming of age against the backdrop of the Sri Lankan civil war with warmth and humor. With both young and older Arjie (Nand and Ingram) delivering intimate, captivating performances -- alongside the poignant technique of momentarily switching the young and old actors to connect the journey -- the movie is engrossing at every turn. Early scenes are rich with color and a sense of near-freedom, as Arjie dresses as a bride with his friends and later shares secrets and make-up sessions with his free-spirited aunt (Agam Darshi) who teaches him that nobody messes with "the grand diva."

As the movie develops, similar abandon is seen in scenes with Arjie's boyfriend, Shehan, as the two bond over Western music and dance naked together, full of joy. While impacting on the story throughout, the atrocities of the civil war are very much a backdrop here. The movie has caused some controversy in its portrayal of the Tamil experience, as well as the decision to cast non-Tamil actors in Tamil parts, some of whom struggled with the language. Yet, as a story of burgeoning sexuality and self-discovery, amid familial, cultural, and political turmoil, Funny Boy truly soars.