Departures Review: Airport Meet Triggers Love Lost and Found in Hookup Haze
Do you believe in life after love? This eternal question forms the emotional core of Neil Ely and Lloyd Eyre-Morgan's darkly comic drama Departures, which tracks one man's post-breakup spiral through a stylized, emotionally candid exploration of identity and intimacy.
A Journey Through Heartbreak and Healing
Co-writer and co-director Lloyd Eyre-Morgan stars as Benji, a thirtysomething lonely heart yearning for genuine connection but repeatedly disappointed by a string of bad boyfriends. His most recent breakup with Jake (David Tag), a hunky personal trainer living a closeted double life, sends Benji into a self-destructive whirl of drinking, drugs, and casual hookups - temporary escapes from his emotional pain.
The narrative takes a poignant turn when a weekend getaway to Amsterdam - the very city where Benji and Jake shared their clandestine relationship - reopens old wounds and forces Benji to confront his unresolved feelings.
Balancing Heavy Themes with Dark Comedy
Though grappling with substantial issues including body image struggles, family rejection, and toxic masculinity, Departures skillfully avoids maudlin sentimentality. Instead, the film employs dark comedy and a vibrant visual style to explore its themes. Through dynamic elliptical editing, Benji's self-destructive spiral and his memories with Jake blur into a nonlinear narrative that powerfully echoes the disorienting effects of heartbreak.
Eyre-Morgan's strong on-screen chemistry with David Tag provides emotional ballast to the lead role, while much of the film's narrative drive comes from Benji's internal monologue, delivered with self-deprecating humour and raw emotional honesty.
Narrative Strengths and Occasional Stumbles
The film's reliance on voiceover as a primary storytelling device occasionally causes narrative momentum to falter, particularly during key emotional scenes. Rather than allowing visuals to convey emotional depth, the voiceover sometimes steps in to verbalize characters' feelings explicitly. Additionally, the use of multiple backstory flashbacks occasionally veers into over-exposition territory.
Despite these minor narrative stumbles, Departures remains a highly thoughtful and engaging exploration of love, identity, and recovery. The film serves as an excellent showcase for northern creative talents on the cinematic stage, offering a fresh perspective on LGBTQ+ experiences.
Departures arrives in UK and Irish cinemas from April 17, bringing its unique blend of dark comedy and emotional authenticity to audiences seeking thoughtful character-driven drama.
