Review of Ekaj (2015) by The All-Seeing I — 14 Dec 2018

Ekaj is nothing short of stellar filmmaking with Cati Gonzalez behind both the script and the lens. Jarring camera work, quick-cut edits, and sometimes-abrasive lighting aren't for every film, but the masterful use of these storytelling implements lend a great visual discomfort to this spellbinding indie.

There's a dreamlike state hovering over Ekaj's homeless characters. Jake Mestre is a visual draw in the centerpiece role. Pretty and gifted with an alien presence, Mestre proves he can hold a pose and a shy conversation, and his solid work is augmented by filmmakers who cut to complimenting visual elements mid-scene, freeing Mestre from the need to deliver heavy emotional content in what would otherwise be uninterrupted takes. Presumably unscripted exchanges of dialogue, sporadic documentary-esque voiceovers, and a killer and edgy selection of songs augment Ekaj's naturalism and prove wise choices for a film shot on rough-and-tumble city streets.

In the end, Ekaj shows that it isn't here to bark sermons or club the viewer over the head with overt conclusions. Instead, it quietly elicits empathy and charts forward-only growth for the film's central character. This is a naturally poignant and engrossing film.