FUNNY BOY
Canada/US, 2020, 110 minutes, Colour.
Ali Kazmi, Brendan Ingram, Rehan Mudannayake, Arush Nand.
Directed by Deepa Mehta.
Funny Boy is a comment made about the central character in this film, Arjie, first seen as a young boy, and as a teenager. As a little boy, he is full of life, first seen dressed as a bride, lipstick, dresses, participating in a children’s game. So, the indications are there immediately. His businessman father is not pleased. His mother is fond of him and indulges him. An aunt, visiting from Canada, appreciates him and encourages him in his interests.
The film was written and directed by Deepa Mehta, Canadian director of Indian background. In the early 2000’s, she made a series of powerful films about life in India, Earth, Fire, Water – also exploring themes of relationships, especially a lesbian relationship.
This time her setting is Sri Lanka and the filming was done in that country. It takes advantage of the city of Colombo, the mansions of the wealthy, streets and marketplaces, schools.
For the first part of the film, the time is 1974, a more stable time in Sri Lanka. The family at the centre of the film is Tamil, coexisting with the more numerous Sinhalese.
The second part of the film, the time is 1984, Arjie is a teenager, at school, tensions between Tamils and Sinhalese on the rise. The atmosphere of the times is suggested in costumes, décor, the developments in technology, computers, and a social where the song from Flashdance is a feature. However, the tensions are escalating, especially with the fighting of the Tamil Tigers in the north of the country, accused of terrorism.
The perspective of this film is that of the Tamils. In fact, the Sinhalese are presented as quite brutal, especially in the uprising sequences, the storming of the family’s house, the destruction and looting, the brutal search for the family and the collecting of the Tamils in the grounds of the Catholic church.
It is in this context that Arjie’s sexual orientation is explored, his attraction to a Sinhalese boy in his class, their time together, his visit to the boy’s house, the boy visiting Arjie’s home, the discovery of their sexual behaviour, the fierce reaction of the father, the banishing of the friend and Arjie’s sad farewell to him.
In the end, the family fly to Canada, welcomed by the aunt, about to live in exile. The screenplay is based on a novel by Shyam Selvadurai, who collaborated with the director in the writing, drawing on his own personal experiences.
1. The work of the director, Canada, India, Sri Lanka, the subcontinent? Range of themes? Her trilogy, Earth, Fire, Water? themes of relationships? This film in that tradition?
2. The setting in Sri Lanka, 1974, the atmosphere of the period, the transition to the mid 1980s?
3. The political background of the film, Tamils versus Sinhalese? The domination of the Sinhalese, animosity towards the Tamils? Persecution leading to decades of Civil War? The role of the Tamil Tigers, guerrilla warfare, terrorism? The ending of the war in 2009?
4. The point of view of the writer and the director, similar sympathy towards the Tamils, painting the similes as aggressors, cruel and violent?
5. The family, Tamil background, wealthy, the home in Colombo, a mansion? The lifestyle? The background of British Empire? Yet the Western influences? Business and commerce? Yet the modern 1970s, technology, education? The father, businessman, touch of the stern, the three children, the happy daughter, the older boy and his sportsmanship, cricket, his friends? Arjie, younger, first seen dressed up as the bride, playing with the children, make up, the little girl attacking him, his father disapproving, his mother supporting him, his brother disapproving? His being forced to play cricket, and coordination, running from the wicket? Failure at serving a tennis?
6. The introduction to the theme of gay characters, growing up, their perspectives as children, behaviour?
7. The aunt from Canada, rather more freethinking, understanding ARJIE, supporting him, opening his horizons? Her falling in love, the disapproval of the family, the arranged marriage, the celebration in the Catholic Church? Her return to Canada?
8. Arjie growing up, the 1980s, going to school, Tamils and Sinhalese, the clashes in the school? The classes, the teacher with Dickens? Responses of the class?
9. Arjie, his age, the audience understanding him from his early years, sitting next to She in class, Tamil and Sinhalese? Their friendship, sharing, the attraction? Arjie and his visit to Shehan’s home, his room, the David Bowie T-shirt, sharing?
10. The story of Jegan, Tamil, reading Dale Carnegie, wanting to get on, working for the father? The discussions with the mother? His being welcomed to stay in the house? His being rounded up, in prison, the cell, the crowd, ARJIE and his mother going to see him, the two minutes? His bitterness, wounds, packing, on the bus to the North?
11. Social life in Colombo, the parties and guests, the singer, the themes from Flashdance? Arjie and his wandering, not mixing well? His mother urging him on?
12. The invitation to she and to come to the house, welcomed, the boy is going to the store shed, the sexual advance, the family coming home, Diggy and his suspicions from seeing the two at the sports stadium, he and his father going to the shed, his father angrily coming out, the two boys coming out, she and going home?
13. The buildup to the dramatic tensions, the threats to the Tamils, all being targeted as Tigers? The riots, the viciousness of the protesters, raiding the family home, destroying and looting? The family going next door, being sheltered by the neighbours, the writers coming, accusing, looking at the store, but deceived? The family rounded up with the Tamils, in the shelter of the Catholic Church?
14. Arjie, going to Shehan’s house, their parting?
15. The family having to migrate to Canada, on the plane, being met by the aunt, the cold, going into exile, the prospects?
