Cactus Pears by Rohan Parashuram Kanawade | IND, GBR, CAN | 112'

Cactus Pears is the first feature film by Rohan Kanawade, an LGBTQIA+ romantic drama about forbidden love, showcasing the vitality of Indian cinema. This semi-autobiographical film won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance in the World Cinema category. The story begins with a city man forced to spend ten days mourning his father’s death in the rugged countryside of western India.

As the mourning period begins after the cremation, he faces subtle but constant pressure from relatives to get married so that at least his mother can take comfort in seeing him settled. Anand feels suffocated, as coming out to his extended family could alienate his mother from relatives when she needs them most.

He finds solace in his childhood friend, Balya (30), who accompanies him on daily outings to the mountains to herd goats. Balya uses the excuse that “educated girls prefer city dwellers over farmers” to stay single, while he too faces similar family pressures regarding his sexuality.

To escape these pressures, the two spend time together. Coming from different worlds but united by childhood memories, they connect through their shared struggle. As the days pass, their intimacy blossoms both emotionally and physically. With the mourning period ending, will their growing bond survive beyond these ten days?

Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears) explores the delicate bonds that develop under pressure and what the future holds for them.