MIFF 2025: Homebound

Melbourne International Film Festival 2025 is ongoing and I went to watch my seventh session (of 12!)

This post my short review of ‘Homebound’

For context: I am a photographer/youtuber that wants to up my cinematography and storytelling, that’s why I’m watching 12 sessions at the film festival PLUS reviewing them here on my blog!

This was my favourite movie that I’ve watched in the reason years. Maybe my favourite movie ever! It was really, really good. I laughed, I cried, and seemingly the whole cinema did the same. I loved the themes and social issues that it conveys. What a movie. Props to everyone involved In making it!

Structure

The opening scene was of the two friends walking to take the police exam test. One of them saw a huge crowd and wanted to give up, but the other encouraged him and remind him of their goal of becoming someone respected — regardless of their religion or background. It was then slowly revealed that one of them is a muslim and one of them is from a low caste in India. Both groups that experience discrimination. (Light spoiler alert) Then it was revealed that the large crowd was actually the crowd to take the train to the test, not the test itself. It was a first mini-twist of many — some funny, some sad, some terrible.

The story had some short time-skips in the middle, which make the audience feel that “need to catch up” feeling by trying to figure out what happened in between. With two main characters that has many similarities but still different, the audience gets to follow along two journeys and sort of compare them. One main theme stuck out: discrimination sucks for everyone, no matter what you are discriminated for. With that central theme, the structure play out losses and wins for each character at different times, testing the strength of their friendship. Can you be happy for someone else when you yourself failed? Can you understand the different path that someone took when it’s not the one that you would choose?

The structure had many up and downs. When a climax is seemingly met, a new part of the story enters.

Narrative

‘Homebound’ tells a story of a beautiful friendship. I found it incredibly touching because I have two sisters (and no brothers) and I feel like I have troubles being close with a guy friend. The adversity that they need to face, in their own country where they were born, is insane. I moved to Australia from Indonesia and I do experience racism, however, I acknowledge that I’m in a much more privileged position for many different reasons, including the fact that I moved here on my own accord — I wasn’t forced to do it and I can go back if it became too difficult. But in ‘Homebound'‘, these two guys lived there their whole lives, yet they receive such horrible treatment. I can imagine many people can relate to that as well.

Another point of the story is sh*t happens in life. When the guys are seemingly in a good spot, something would happen. Challenges always come their way. Some bits were really painful to watch. Because of that, when they have wins, no matter how small, I feel like I want to cheer for them. Throughout the film, I became invested in their story and wish them the best happy ending.

Cinematography

Honestly, I was so engrossed in the narrative that I didn’t pay attention to the cinematography. Or rather, it was secondary to how I remember the film — maybe that’s not how this works, perhaps everything just serves the narrative and cinematography is just embedded in that… Well, that being said, there was still some particular shots that I remember.

The shot when they were in the crowded train was cool. I wonder how many extras that they needed to have for some of these scenes, like holy crap. There were some drone-like top-down shots that looked eerie and unsettling. Lastly, my favourite ones were the “mundanes” ones of the characters near the water, whether it’s the sea or a lake or a river, the way the film uses locations next to water is very neat! It made me want to sit there as well.

Who would I recommend this to?

Every. Human. Being. On. Earth. Hahaha. More seriously, anyone who experience discrimination of any level. Anyone who likes a story of a strong friendship — a great “love” story alternative to romantic stories. Finally, anyone that just wants to feel something, have a good laugh, have a good cry, and leave the cinema wanting to tell everyone that they know to watch it as well.

As I mentioned, this could maybe be my favourite movie ever.