Anand, who lives in the anonymous modern metropolis of Mumbai, must return to his home village for the mourning period following a death in the family. There, he must come to terms with the very traditional and outdated mindset of the people who live there, walking a fine line between not hurting their feelings and not losing sight of himself and his own beliefs. For he is secretly gay, which, unfortunately, still seems unacceptable in this culture. Only his parents seem liberal; he has come out to them. During his visit, he runs into his former childhood friend Balya, a simple farmer who also carries this secret and is trying to somehow escape the strict ideals. Cactus Pears is a quiet, unhurried film that makes powerful use of imagery and emotion. It delves into the many traditions of India that are foreign to us and is well worth watching.

A quiet film with a loud voice. Very serene and heartfelt. I had the pleasure of attending the Q&A with the director. Highly recommended.

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Anand, who lives in the anonymous modern metropolis of Mumbai, must return to his home village for the mourning period following a death in the family. There, he must come to terms with the very traditional and outdated mindset of the people who live there, walking a fine line between not hurting their feelings and not losing sight of himself and his own beliefs. For he is secretly gay, which, unfortunately, still seems unacceptable in this culture. Only his parents seem liberal; he has come out to them. During his visit, he runs into his former childhood friend Balya, a simple farmer who also carries this secret and is trying to somehow escape the strict ideals. Cactus Pears is a quiet, unhurried film that makes powerful use of imagery and emotion. It delves into the many traditions of India that are foreign to us and is well worth watching.