User Reviews

This movie really caught me by surprise! It's honestly one of the best movies I've seen this year! I loved the tone! Really captured the zeitgeist of lockdown in a way nothing I've seen has and it touches on so many important topics about love, family, community, etc. And it's really funny and so heartfelt! Felt healing to watch. I can't wait to watch it again! I was also very impressed by the filmmakers who made this movie - who not only acted in the film but apparently did about everything else! Really excited to see this film take flight and also to see where their careers lead them to next! I forecast big things ahead! "It was a movie that I honestly didn't know if I wanted to watch and I am so glad I did! I can't wait to watch it again!" Great job!

Who would have thought that a truly queer film by queer filmmakers would actually have something relevant to say and say it in a genuinely heartfelt and humorous manner. This film does just that without being cloying or pretentious or stereotypical. I was actually interested in the characters. Kudos to the directors for making a film that looked much more expensively made than it actually was. The actors all showed great range and comfort with their characters making the viewing even more enjoyable. The final shot of the movie is rather spectacular and could easily have been in a great Spielberg movie. I hope to see more work from the two directors/actors.

F. L. Y. Is an extraordinary gay romcom that fearlessly explores the journey of self-acceptance and honesty against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The relatable characters and their unexpected journey invite you to laugh, empathize, and form a deep connection. The story is cleverly written, effortlessly blending humor and heartfelt moments that weave together the themes of the pandemic, self-discovery and love.

With its hilariously funny jokes, well-crafted storyline, exceptional acting, on-point music choices, and an unfiltered portrayal of gay life, this film will keep you engaged throughout. It tells a story that needs to be heard, breaking free from the Double Paris filters of mainstream media.

With its impeccable production, heartfelt moments, and powerful message, F. L. Y. Is a film that deserves to be seen. It is a delightful, honest, and unapologetic celebration of self-acceptance, love, and the human spirit. I will certainly watch it again and wholeheartedly recommend you see it too.

I watched the movie at its premiere at Outfest and WOW... I wish more movies like this existed!

The script is heartwarming and funny, I feel like it's a great snapshot of life and touches on some very real issues that people including myself deal with.

I haven't seen representation like this on screen before, it's so relatable! And the actors are great. They said this is their first feature and knowing that - I feel like these are very promising voices of our generation. I enjoyed every second of it! Hope others can watch this movie soon because the message of the movie is so important, it's about pure love and honesty!

Highly recommend!!

I had the benefit of seeing this film at Outfest '23 with a theater full of people who were super responsive both to the film and to the personal stories of the people who made it--so I'm a bit biased in my review--but there's no question that this film has undeniable heart and speaks for audiences everywhere who are underrepresented by mainstream Hollywood.

This film dares to tackle the topic of love during Covid lockdown in a fresh and non-cringe way, with characters who might be reduced to stereotypes in a big studio production rendered here with obvious love and truth. For a story about people confined to their homes it goes places you wouldn't expect. It's also kind of meta. The filmmakers called this film a romantic comedy and while it's quite funny I think it's deeper emotionally than that. This is more a slice of life from people who have really lived that life, and you can feel it hasn't been easy for them. The acting is surprisingly strong for a film with a tiny budget, especially the actor who plays Rafael, and it's even more impressive when you consider the two lead actors also wrote and directed it. That is really hard to do on your first feature.

That said, as a first outing it does have a couple rough edges: the cinematography isn't flashy and the story might try to wrap up a few too many loose ends, but the performances are so charming that I didn't really mind. Everything is elevated by a musical score which hits just the right notes tonally, and sure-handed editing which helps the film transcend its low budget limitations.

This is a film which brings people together and bonds them over a shared experience, so I would recommend seeing it with friends if you get a chance. As I said, I'm a bit biased because I learned the story of the filmmakers while I watched it--but after you watch it you might be biased too.

While the lead characters are gay, the struggles of Max (played by Trent Kendrick) are struggles nearly everyone deals with no matter their sexual orientation and gender identity. This is truly a film that can be enjoyed by all. It moves at a quick pace throughout, but lets the important tender moments marinate in the juice of humanity so we as the audience can connect and empathize with the characters. As soon as your eyes stop tearing up, you'll be laughing again. The montages bring a fun, celebratory vibe, and music will get your body movin. Mad respect for the filmmakers, and I hope this gem of a film gets wider distribution.

Completely blown away by this film. So touching, so funny, so gorgeous. Completely independently produced with blood, sweat, and tears, but also looked like it had a studio budget. The editing was fabulous. The opening credit sequence was fun and sexy. The molly drug trip montage was spot on. I and everyone I was with had such a blast. And hearing the filmmakers talk about their process making the film in the Q&A was so inspiring. Their passion really comes through in the final product. Overall very impressed and inspired by this film, you should absolutely run to see it if it's playing in a festival near you!

F. L. Y. Immediately grabbed my attention with its quick pace, exciting intro, and engaging characters. The film weaves together a story with elements of topical struggles society has undergone from Covid to politics, romantic and familial relationships, personal identity, and discovering oneself with a level of humor that balances the deep subjects scattered throughout. The characters have depth and layers that make it easy to see yourself in and allow for personal introspection as you're being entertained the entire film. This is a film that will stay with you and you'll want to share with everyone. Highly recommend to all audiences looking for laughs and love.

F. L. Y. Brilliantly couples real life issues with hilarious comedy. Highlighting the difficulties we can all face in relationships, F. L. Y. Teaches many valuable lessons in a real and comedic way, which is a joy to watch. F. L. Y. shows us how important the people in our life are to us, and how impactful the people around us can be, and how they can be the source of struggle and the source of great joy. It's very rare that such an important story has such exceptional comedy. The writing, story telling, and characters are fabulous. It's inspiring to see how F. L. Y. Illustrates the importance of identity in our every day life.

Start to finish FLY feels all genuine. You can definitely listen to all it has to say so loud and clear it's hard not to pay attention. The characters aren't stereotypes and that was very refreshing, because I could see them portraying a complex actuality and not a romanticized version of life. It was very easy for me to identify myself with the struggles and reactions to LGBTQ+ community related issues that the movie taps into, but also with the worldwide context that the movie is situated on. It made me laugh and almost sob. The writer definitely managed to turn all classic rom-com clichés into heartfelt genuine moments that makes it easy for anyone to see themselves into even if they're straight. And the ending made me feel both uplifted but grounded somehow. I definitely would recommend this movie, it's an all queer movie for everyone.

Such a fun film! A beautifully fun camp experience revisiting lockdown, while also making room to draw a few tears. This film has a great representation of today's dating culture too. The film highlights so many realms of love, and the different relationships throughout giving this unconventional and divergent love story an adorable perspective to unconventional relationship dynamics not seen represented in mainstream film. I fell in love with the characters. The chemistry between them was amazing <3 Definitely a great movie to revisit and rewatch. Hopefully will be available to stream soon!!!

I had the privilege to watch 'F. L. Y.' at the Mardi Gras Film Festival in Sydney, and it's a film that truly stands out with its smart intertwining of a Covid narrative amidst a hilarious and heartfelt LGBTQI+ story. The two main actors deliver performances that are both powerful and nuanced, anchoring the film's emotional depth and comedic highs. Their talent, alongside the hilariously brilliant supporting cast, elevates the movie beyond its contemporaries. The well written script and beautiful cinematography make F. L. Y. One of the best LGBTQI+ movie I have seen in the past few years. Highly recommended.

F. Y. I (first love yourself) movie shows the importance and challenges of self-love in the modern world. It is very well-written and directed, with humor and satire that address important issues such as with social media, body image, mental health, and non-monogamy. The movie has a diverse and talented cast. It is impeccably produced, with beautiful and fun visuals, music, and editing. It has a smooth transition from start to finish, keeping the audience interested and entertained. It has a powerful and inspiring story that is intensified by the unexpected impact of the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, where the characters learn to love themselves by seeing themselves in each other.

"F. L. Y.", has a handful of characters, some pop in just to add humor while others carry you through pain and drama. No matter your walk in life, this story will touch you, if not bring tears to your eyes, it caught me off guard. And yes, you will get blindsided by some real offbeat humor that's placed just right to counter the heavy story moments. Although the foundation of the story is comedic, what's surprising is the coming to terms with self human aspect that pushes its way through. You become aware of this when viewing the movie. One of the standout components in addition to well developed characters is the editing by Shiran Carolyn Amir. The editing is smooth, I got to enjoy this storyline because each new cut of information pushed me forward with a perfect pace and purpose. Trent Kendrick/"Max" and Rafael Albarran/"Raf" the two actors and main characters who developed the script during the covid lockdown brought a verisimilitude-authenticity to it. The "Covid lockdown" plays a key dramatic role in the story, as well as a comedic one. It's a tense story about a past relationship forced to relive itself while Max is house sitting and Raf shows up ready to take on "Hollywood" by storm with his new found drag queen stage act packed in a bunch of suitcases. Max is still being reserved about his way of living as a gay man, having been a college athlete, having a heavy handed father who disapproves of him, he is not ready for this. Trent/"Max" performs this internal struggle with such precision, it's palpable. You feel his angst, you empathize with him. When Raf shows up at his door step, luggage and all, you see the struggle begin. Rafael/ "Raf" with his gruff voice, piercing facial expressions, and conniving charm, you know there is going to be trouble. You feel it, and so does Max, but both characters will exchange the roles of wisdom and immaturity equally in a dynamic way through out the movie that you'll get lost in it, until you come out of it. As I said before, no matter your walk in life, you'll come away from this movie understanding yourself more, I did.

I was able to catch this film at the Miami Outshine Film Festival and I'm so glad I did. In the first couple of minutes I found myself uncertain of its direction. The initial setup seemed scattered, leaving me wondering where the story was headed. However, once the exposition was out of the way, the film found its stride and never looked back. From that point on, it held my attention until the credits rolled.

I was really impressed with the acting of Rafael he seemed so natural in every scene. My favorite scenes where the ones with his mom and abuela. They felt so palpable and real. I'm Cuban and they remind me so much of mine. All the small characters where incredible adds to the comedy of the film. Every time the actress playing Denae was on screen I laugh. But what struck me most was the seamless blend of comedy with poignant, slice-of-life moments and how in moments I wasnt expecting my eyes will get teary.

What made it also special was how self aware the filmmakers where like the film wasn't afraid to poke fun at itself, for me this was brilliant and had me laughing hard. I couldn't believe at the end in the Q&A that the lead actors were also the directors and writers of the film and that this was their first movie. Really hope Netflix or a good streamer finds it. I hope these duo keeps making films together. Definitely a new refreshing voice in queer cinema.

I never thought I'd look back at the covid lockdowns with such a sense of nostalgia. This film was not only a lot of fun, but heartwarming and beautiful. It had me in tears by the end.

I was lucky enough to see this at the Sydney Mardi Gras Film Festival and could not believe it was the debut feature from Rafael Albarran and Trent Kendrick: their careful treatment of queer identities, their beautifully-crafted story, their stellar performances among a very strong cast (many of whom only exist over Zoom but somehow manage one scene-stealing moment after another).

Rafael and Trent have great things ahead and I'll be watching out for whatever project they have for us next.

If you're searching for a queer pick-me-up movie, look no further than F. L. Y.