Ancestors

This auspicious first feature by Irish writer-director David Turpin is often poetically complex in sentiment but rawly direct in feeling; it overreaches here and there, only to pull back and punch you right in the gut.

In its swirl of emotions, ideas and styles, Ancestors can get a little lost in the mist but when, in its finest moments, it all clears, there’s something haunting in front of us.

With standout performances from its three leads and a dreamy visual style that mirrors the instability and constantly shifting sands of living during the AIDS crisis, it’s a love letter to all those who were lost.

It’s a touching tribute to an entire generation no longer here today. Amid the story’s inherent sadness, it proves that even in darkness, there’s a light to be found.