“Why does everyone say I’m funny? What does that mean?” young Arjie (Arush Nand) asks in “Funny Boy.” His parents are trying to explain to him why he can’t dress up as the bride in play weddings with his friends, why he can’t wear makeup or paint his nails. Arjie wants to know why boys aren’t allowed to do “girly” things, while girls are allowed to play sports with the boys. Why can’t he do what makes him happy?
It’s a real out-of-the-mouths-of-babes moment, one that’s likely to resonate with any viewer of Deepa Mehta’s coming-of-age drama, whether or not they, like Arjie, grew up in ’70s/’80s Sri Lanka. Why are we so often policed for doing what makes us happy, for what feels right? Why do we do the same to others?
Most of the action of “Funny Boy,” based on Shyam Selvadurai’s novel of the same name, is seen through Arjie’s eyes. As he grows up, and understands more, he comes to realize he’s not the only person who is bullied and harassed just for being who he is. Arjie and his family are Tamil, a minority ethnic group in Sri Lanka, but their wealth protects them from much of the violence the majority Sinhalese wage on their fellow Tamils. As a boy, Arjie sees his beloved aunt — the one person in his family who fully knows and accepts him — fall in love with a Sinhalese man only for their families and a horrific attack to come between them. Later on, as a teen, Arjie’s (Brandon Ingram) family takes in a former Tamil Tiger who is targeted by law enforcement.
At school, Arjie falls for a young Sinhalese man, Shehan (Rehan Mudannayake). The cultural divide poses less of an issue for them than the prospect of their relationship being revealed; homosexuality is illegal as well as taboo. Even with the danger their connection poses, the two find so much solace and happiness together that the audience hopes against hope that they can figure out a way to make it work.
With its queer protagonist and focus on recent Sri Lankan history, “Funny Boy” offers a clear-eyed critique of societal rules and norms, and how arbitrary they can be. Put frankly, Canada’s pick for the International Feature Oscar race underlines the stupidity of bigotry. Neighbors are friendly and polite until they learn they’re from different ethnic groups; it’s often fine for girls to do masc things but a travesty when boys do femme things; a miserable Tamil marriage is better than any happy Tamil-Sinhalese union. “Funny Boy” is honest about the destruction hatred and prejudice can cause — and how ultimately useless they are.
“Funny Boy” is now available on Netflix. Mehta and Selvadurai penned the script.
