Cher's anthem echoes in 'departures', a dark comedy of love and self-destruction

In the wake of a painful breakup, Benji, a thirtysomething loner, spirals into a vortex of booze, drugs and casual hookups in Neil Ely and Lloyd Eyre-Morgan's poignant, darkly comedic drama Departures.

Breakup blues in amsterdam

After his recent split with Jake, a hunky personal trainer hiding a closeted double life, Benji embarks on a solo weekend getaway to Amsterdam, the city where their clandestine romance unfolded. But the trip only reopens old wounds, forcing him to confront lingering feelings of rejection and self-doubt.

Through dynamic elliptical editing, Benji's self-destructive downward spiral and haunting memories of Jake blur into a non-linear narrative that mirrors the mind-shattering impact of a broken heart. Eyre-Morgan's strong chemistry with co-star David Tag, who plays Jake, anchors the lead role, while much of the film is driven by Benji's internal monologue delivered with self-deprecating humor and raw honesty.

Though grappling with heavy themes like body image, family rejection and toxic masculinity, Departures never veers into mawkish sentimentality, instead favoring dark wit and a poppy visual style. The reliance on voiceover occasionally hampers emotional scenes, but the film remains a highly thoughtful exploration of love, identity and the human quest for genuine connection.