Jump to the good stuff: The Story | Some Thoughts | The Final Verdict
The Story:
Touch of Pink is a gay romantic drama about Alim (Jimi Mistry), a young Muslim man who moved from Toronto to London to escape his conservative family.
The film opens with Cary Grant (Kyle MacLachlan) explaining how he’s a part of Alim’s life, advising him on handling a number of situations, from work to romance. He also credits himself for Alim’s relationship with Giles (Kris Holden-Ried).
After Alim and Giles celebrate their anniversary with friends and Giles’s family, Alim finds out that his mother, Nuru (Suleka Mathew), is not only going to visit, but she’s also going to stay with them. Since she doesn’t know that Alim is gay, he panics. They remove anything that may be remotely gay and tell her that Giles is his roommate.
Giles calmly tries to convince Alim to come out to Nuru during her visit, but Alim refuses to do it. After Nuru arrives, Giles says that he’ll show her around London so she can get comfortable with him, which Alim doesn’t think would be a good idea. And the longer Alim refuses to acknowledge their relationship to Nuru, the more hurt Giles becomes. Soon tensions rise, and the drama begins.
Some Thoughts:
A grown man having an imaginary friend seems like a bit of a stretch, but the film manages to make it work. MacLachlan’s interpretation of Cary Grant may not be spot on, but the interactions between Cary and Alim are delightful. It also puts a fresh spin on a story about a man living in the closet.
Although the acting overall is good, Mathew steals the show. She plays Nuru, a demanding woman unafraid to speak her mind, with enough humanity that it’s easy to feel for her. Mathew also knows how to deliver a subtle barb. Because of this, it’s easy to see how Giles would be taken by her instead of annoyed.
Alim’s cousin, Khaled (Raoul Bhaneja) is getting married, which brings the promise of grandchildren for his parents. Touch of Pink uses the wedding to show the cultural and generational differences working against Alim. This also gives us more time with Nuru and her interactions with the family.
There’s never a dull moment, even upon repeat viewings. The acting overall is decent, and the interactions between the characters make this a delight to watch.
The Final Verdict:
Touch of Pink may not have the most original storyline, but it’s enjoyable and works on all levels.
