My expectations were rather nonexistent for Albanian queer coming-of-age drama, I Love You More. It is not that LGBT+ indie gems are impossible to find, but now more than ever there is a lot of content to sift through. Written and directed by Erblin Nushi, his debut feature has a haunting, intimate quality about it that I was unable to shake for days. Intense moments of heartbreaking honesty rattle the soul, marking I Love You More as a must-see entry into the gay movie pantheon.
The film’s narrative may sound, on paper, to be rather barebones. Just as shy Kosovar loner Ben (Don Shala) makes plans to finally meet up with his online boyfriend, Leo (Leonik Sahiti), in person, Ben’s family has won the green card lottery. This means a huge opportunity for Ben and his family, but how will this affect Leo? Ben grapples with how to still keep Leo a secret, yet stress the importance of this relationship on both of his parents. With Leo inbound from Germany during the same month they are destined to leave, how can they make it work?
I Love You More definitely does dabble into typical coming-of-age gay stories, which yes, means a rather tumultuous experience when it comes to coming out of the closet for the first time. The manner in which Ben’s parents handle him telling them about his sexual identity frustrates immeasurably. Ben’s mom tries to understand, but his father thinks that something may be physically wrong with Ben. Assuming a queer youth is “destroying his life” over another boy seems a little dramatic. However, in the context of the green card situation, differing points of view become slightly easier to digest. Will Leo be the love of Ben’s life, or does the insistence that they keep pushing the moving date to accommodate Leo’s arrival spell trouble?
Understanding Ben’s obsession over Leo may only be possible for those who have felt a first love. This is what that often feels like—you need every part of that person all to yourself. I Love You More builds up Leo offscreen for the majority of the film. In this way, the opinion that the audience forms cannot be strictly anchored by appearance. Does there seem to be actual love coming from both sides? As the film depicts the upsetting nature of a person who won’t answer texts, I really felt for Ben. Flawed though he is, he just wants love. Connection with another human that’s not the faux prom date or someone his parents are trying to hook him up with—Ben wants a partner for life.
Eventually, I Love You More has to get to the real meat and potatoes of Ben and Leo’s relationship. Once it finally goes there, it becomes more than worth the wait. Achingly beautiful camera angles explore the human body, ratcheting up Ben’s adoration for Leo. As much as some may want this to be a simply love story, I Love You More seems more interested in the character study of a confused teenager. Relationships are much more complicated than does X fit with Y. Discovering oneself on the journey to realizing their identity is a infinitely more interesting to watch.
Say I Love You More to your new favorite gay teen drama, coming to home video and VOD on February 13th.
