When we have an object of our affection, we can do some crazy things to catch their eye or to keep their interest. We tell small white lies or half truths about ourselves because we want to project a certain kind of image to that person, and we can be afraid to take a leap and make a move. In Mateusz Pacewicz’s amusingly sweet short film Stimulants & Empathogens, a closeted rich kid keeps buying drugs from his drug dealer crush only to be surprised when their families come crashing together.
The opening shot of Pacewicz’s film informs us so much about Anek and his family. The camera pans down the outside of their large home as Anek’s cello plays “Habanero” from Carmen. It almost feels like the instrument is powering the room itself, and the unsung lyrics from Georges Bizet’s opera are winking at us. If someone was singing during this moment, we would hear the lyrics, ‘Love is a rebellious bird that no one can tame.’ Pacewicz uses one of the most famous arias but twists it to fit the longing spirit of one of his lead characters.
As Anek’s parents are heading out to the symphony, he takes his time alone to reach out to Kuba to swing by and sell him more drugs, an arrangement that has happened enough that they have a connection. The secret is that Anek doesn’t actually take the pills, but he is anxious for any interaction that he can get. He knows that Kuba, despite his toughness and swagger, is gay too, and Anek is desperate to finally make a move. Before Kuba arrives, Anek tries to messy up his room to appear more relaxed–a charming, relatable touch.
Things begin to get stressful when the families of both young men get involved. When Anek’s parents abruptly return, Anek has to lie about who Kuba is and Kuba’s father and brother (who manage is dealer activities) are restless waiting in the car. Pacewicz makes clear comparisons and differences between the family members as they come closer to coming together, but he emphasizes that we are not solely who our parents expect us to be. It’s a subtle line that not a lot of directors care to explore, but Pacewicz wants us to root for these young kids to have a real chance at a first romance while making jabs at overly liberal parents.
Stimulants & Empathogens examines love and lust, the wealthy with the struggling, but it also keenly shows that we all want to make a bold first move when it comes to making a connection.
Stimulants & Empathogens plays in-person at Out on Film on September 27.
