Sahra Bhimji | Chemistry / 2022

the well-known chemistry of opposites

by Douglas Messerli

 

Kaylynn Barley and Sahra Bhimji (screenplay), Sahra Bhimji (director) Chemistry / 2022 [11 minutes]

 

Waleed (Christopher Batres) is what you might describe as a shirker student, the kind who, without paying attention to anything his chemistry teacher is saying, allows his cellphone to ring the very moment his black-board buried prof recognizes that he speaking to a class of students by asking a question. All Waleed can seem to notice is another boy, Liam (Garrett Hannigan) staring at him in disbelief.

     The personable but discombobulated Waleed has not even heard the professor tell them of their next assignment, and attempts, after class, to get the information from Liam, who disparagingly tries ignore the eager classmate, turning away when he suggests they might meet up to talk about the assignment and even do an experiment or two together. Liam is off to the library, which Waleed, in jest, pretends to have not even know of its existence.

     In the very next frame, we see Liam asleep in the library, being told it has just closed. The presumption is that he has been working so long and hard that he has finally fallen asleep.

      But in the very next frame, in full daylight, Liam leaves the library where, once more in runs into Waleed, who claims to have just gotten out of another class. I’d suggest that director Bhimji has a problem with continuity here (no college library that I know of closes in the middle of the day—although it may be that Diablo Valley College is the kind of commuter school where everyone leaves campus by 5:00) and, perhaps, equally has a problem with a rather unbelievable situation where the two boys meet up again. Even Liam wonders whether Waleed might be stalking him.

      We do know, however, that Liam has been working in the library since he has just submitted his assignment on line. Even Waleed is a bit wowed, complementing his peer by suggesting that he’s “really awesome, and…very studious, and will probably be transferring to someplace like Berkeley or Harvard.” Liam interrupts, “Stanford.” But still the shirker asks him out to dinner.

       Liam admits that he’s “super broke,” but Waleed offers to pay as long as he lets him pick the restaurant. Liam, however, requests vegetarian, and the always agreeable Waleed declares that he too is vegetarian—as of today! Off the two go to dinner.

      We watch the two leave the restaurant, obviously thoroughly enjoying one another’s company and coming together in a manner that we suspect is sexual as well. But Liam asks if Waleed has actually submitted the assignment, since it is now due in an hour.

       “Such a downer dude, we were having so much fun,” is Waleed’s response. Liam’s response makes it clear that the two have, in fact, quickly become more than buddies as he take’s Waleed’s hand and suggests maybe he can come over and help him out.

 

      Waleed, however suggests Liam’s place since his will be messy, but Liam counters that he doesn’t mind messy. the two moving in for a kiss.

        But almost immediately, Liam backs off. “Actually, that’s not going to work.” As he drops Waleed’s hand, the boy wonders if he had done something wrong, offering him to give a drive home, Liam responding that his car is close by. We are as confused at what is now transpiring as is Waleed, Liam thanking him for dinner and rushing off.

        A moment later, however, all is made clear as we see Liam drive to an isolated spot, and paste up pieces of cardboard on his car windows. Obviously he is one of those students hardly able to afford paying for his education, living out of his van.

        Liam undresses, cleans his face and mouth with tissues, and finally down to sleep, the sounds of sirens, walking feet, arguments etc. filling the night. If you’ve ever slept in a car or in an apartment near an open window in a highly urban neighborhood, you know the sounds.

        But then there is a tapping on the car window itself, something truly frightening to the boy.

       A voice calls out, “Is everything okay? Liam, it’s me.” Now we are certain that Waleed has been stalking his new friend. Liam rightfully insists that he step away from the car.

        Waleed obeys, but explains that he will call him when he reaches his own auto.

        “Why are you here?” Liam angrily asks.

        “Why are you hiding in your car?”

        “Why do you think?” Waleed, as we’ve noted, is no deep thinker.

        “Oh shit, I just realized. Are you sleeping in your car?”

        The question would be funny if the truth behind it wasn’t so very sad.

        “It’s just temporary, okay. I’m just between places.”

        “…I’m so sorry. I’m an idiot. I thought you were hiding from me.”

        Liam assures him he’s fine, but begs him not to tell anyone, the dilemma all such students surely face, yet something that is nearly impossible to fully hide.

        Waleed admits that he has also lied when he has told Laim that he has his own place. “I live with my parents, Liam responding that he had figured that out, but that “sounds kind of nice.” After a long pause, he adds, “Mine are asses.” We can only wonder, did Liam parents disown for being gay?

         Waleed, always the comic, continues, “And my grandparents, and my three sisters…and two cats, which I’m allergic to.”

          Liam laughs. “Okay, maybe not so nice then.”

          Waleed adds that his family is super conservative. “I don’t know how I’m ever going to come out to them.” After a long pause, he adds, “Unless like we get married!”

          “We’d probably have to elope or something.” After another pause, Liam asks, “So, what? Is it past your curfew?”

         “Oh, way past my curfew.”

      Liam suggests that there’s still 22 minutes left until the assignment is due. On the phone, he explains how to open the assignment to begin the work. But we suspect that eventually he might invite the terribly tardy son into van to share his bed for the night.

       For once, both young men—the shirker and the far too serious-minded student, a comic and a young man living a drama he shouldn’t have to face—might come together to share a few joyful sexual moments in the night. That’s the well-known chemistry of opposites.

 

Los Angeles, December 3, 2023

Reprinted from My Queer Cinema blog (December 2023).