Review: '"Besties' a Compelling Queer Spin on 'Romeo and Juliet"

Star-crossed lovers is a common trope in romance. Something about thwarted love often makes the audience connect with, and root harder for, a couple.

Written and directed by Marion Desseigne-Ravel – in her feature-length directorial debut – "Besties" ("Les Meilleures") is a compelling, poignant, and emotional French film about a teen girl who falls for a girl in a rival gang – a queer spin on "Romeo and Juliet."

Protagonist Nedjma (Lina El Arabi) is a first-generation Algerian-French teen living with her mother Fatima (Fadila Bouanati) and her younger sister, Leila (Kiyane Benamara). She belongs to a tight friend group that includes Leila, Samar (Mahia Zrouki) and Carine (Tasnim Jamlaoui). The film opens with the young women laughing, hugging, and taking selfies.

Nedjma is immediately attracted to new student Zina (Esther Rollande), watching as she moves into her apartment building. In class, Zina's knowledge of music and her singing voice intrigue Nedjma. When Zina innocently sits on a park bench that Nedjma's gang uses, her friends start bullying Zina. When Zina's cousin and friends arrive, a melee ensues.

Leila, Carine, and Samar want to retaliate against Zina and "ruin her reputation." While Zina waits on a street to meet with Nedjma (a set-up), they film her from an angle that makes it look like she gives a man a blowjob so they can post the slut-shaming video online. When Zina sees them they run off, but Nedjma apologizes. The two young women share headphones, listening to music as they ride the bus home.

In the apartment hallway, Nedjma kisses Zina, but she panics and runs away. The next scene cuts to Nedjma scrubbing her face in the shower, indicating her internalized homophobia.

Later, Nedjma and Zina kiss on the roof of their apartment building overlooking the city at night. It becomes their sanctuary, a place where they are free to be themselves. After becoming lovers, Zina tells Nedjma she's "gentle," which Nedjma scoffs at, since she dons a tough exterior wielding robust authority. Zina thinks people just don't understand her true self.

In a visually and audibly striking scene at a school dance – illuminated in the purples, pinks, and blues of "bisexual lighting" – the camera slowly pans from Nedjma to Zina dancing, as they watch each other across the floor. The electronic score fuses with tinkling piano keys, reminiscent of the romanticism of falling water.

Alone at the dance, Nedjma reveals to Zina that she puts on a strong façade, but in reality she's "scared of everything." As they hug and kiss, Nedjma's friends enter the room. In the days following, Nedjma endures a gauntlet of bullying and harassment. Her so-called friends reveal their homophobic toxicity. As she struggles with isolation, Nedjma must decide if she wants to hide or be true to herself.

Lina El Arabi gives a wonderful performance as Nedjma. While deftly and subtly tackling issues of homophobia, class, and immigration, "Besties" works as beautifully as it does because of her expressive performance.

In a particularly moving and heartbreaking scene, Nedjma's mother tries to soothe her by stroking her hair and sharing her experiences as a teenager: She cared if boys found her attractive. When Nedjma responds that she doesn't care about boys, her mother replies that someday she will bring home a handsome man. The camera remains close-up on Nedjma, silent tears streaming down her face, as she knows she's a lesbian.

"Besties" sublimely captures the euphoria of attraction, first love, intimacy, and sex. It also demonstrates how tenuous the bonds of friendship can be, especially when fueled by hatred and homophobia. Along with sensing her joy, the film makes us sit with Nedjma's fear, confusion, and despondency as she sorts out her feelings about her queer identity and desire – emotions and experiences many of us queer people know all too well.

"Besties" is an incredibly moving, tender, and poignant coming-of-age story.

"Besties" screens at OUTshine Film Festival on Saturday, April 23, 2022

This story is part of our special report: "OUTshine 2022". Want to read more? Here's the full list.