EMERGENCE: OUT OF THE SHADOWS

Vinay Giridhar | Canada | 2021 | 80 min | PUNJABI & ENGLISH S.-T.EN. & F.

Tender, thoughtful and teary, Emergence: Out of the Shadows explores the taboo topic of being gay or lesbian in Vancouver’s South Asian community, telling a poignant story of family rejection, self-discovery and ultimate transformation.

For Kayden, Jag, and Amar, awakening to, and expressing their sexuality within conservative South Asian families was a lonely and terrifying experience. Denial, shame and despair haunted their youths, even threatening their lives. Yet, they’ve emerged. In Emergence: Out of the Shadows, the disparate journeys of Kayden, Jag and Amar converge around a shared sense of compassion and healing as they bravely convey their often heart-wrenching stories. Confronted with tradition and taboo in their Punjabi Sikh cultures, Jag’s parents and Amar’s mother choose love and support for their children, offering courage and inspiration to individuals and communities struggling with acceptance.