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Javi (Rafael Silba) has been best friends with Hunter (Denis Shepherd) since childhood - but when he tries to passionately kiss him at their graduation party, Hunter is so shocked he pushes him away. And sure, he has every reason to be shocked since Javi hasn't come out as gay even to him, but that he doesn*t try to make up again, even at the insistence of his girlfriend Tracy (Caroline Portu), isn't the friendliest thing to do.  And so, the "best friends" lose track with one another right after high school. They only meet again, by pure chance, at a pub where Hunter works as dishwasher and Javi attends a party. Upon spotting him, Hunter wants to finally make up with Javi, having done lots of soul-searching in the last five years, but Javi is slightly distracted as two ICE-agents (Brian J. McDonald, Mary Fegreus) are raiding the place, and he's an illegal immigrant - not even by choice, his parents just brought him along when they were looking for a better life. However, this time Hunter doesn't want to give up on his friend again and actually proposes to Javi to marry him to help him get a green card, At first, Javi is sceptical about this, even suspects this is just a ploy of Hunter's to get into Tracy's pants again, but Hunter is quite insistent, and even if he hasn't got a gay bone in his body, he proves over and over again that he really loves his best friend. So everything should be heading for a happy ending - if it wasn't for Hunter's friend Ryan (Dakota Lustick) who's not only jealous of the attention Hunter grants to Javi, he also wants to join the ranks of ICE and squealing might endear him to the agency ...

Now of course, the message of this movie that speaks of friendship and compassion and criticizes some deplorable gouvernment practices is nothing short of commendable - but a film can of course not thrive on message alone. And fortunately, The Compatriots is a movie that really puts story first and that is pupulated by well fleshed out characters with actual interesting arcs, whom a relatable cast brings to life rather beautifully. And all that, paired with a subtle direction that keeps things from getting too saccharine, makes for good and yet thoughtful entertainment.

review © by Mike Haberfelner

 

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