This is a courageous movie, full of stirring moments, sensuality, authentic emotions, love, hatred, ignorance, self-discovery. Had it been launched in Europe, in France perhaps, it would have had major success. In the US, the race discourse, commingled with Jesus talk, environmentalism, identity politics, etc., completely overshadows the genuine merits of plot and cinematography. Acting is not always great, but the roles are not as hard as they look. There is one love scene between two young men in which the tension and the mutual attraction are so well calibrated that anyone, straight or gay, is inevitably touched. Anyone, male or female, gay or straight, can identify with the daring, the fear, the unavoidable accumulation of desire that turns the adolescent into adult. I love how the scene cameos the way the whole movie stages fear and anger, the major emotions in the story, and shows how love can channel them into something positive and constructive. The two young men are perhaps only in lust with one another, at least in that specific scene, but as we know from the plot they also love one another. They have known each other since childhood. This is a powerful story, tragic and beautiful, and true, and perhaps it will earn viewers a sense of peace. Odd that it id not make a bigger splash. 9 out of 10 stars is the minimum.