Queer cinema, which for regrettably obvious reasons has historically existed on the margins of screen culture, often struggles with low budgets, inexperienced casts and crews, and relatively weak writing. As such when they have attempted to replicate more heteronormative styles of commercially-oriented cinema, they have struggled to match their qualities. Thankfully this situation seems to have been amended in recent decades, but it still leaves behind a long, historically important legacy of low-budget, somewhat primitive filmmaking that does not demand caveats so much as understanding.

Suzuki Akihiro’s Looking for an Angel is a 1999 independent drama that has developed a cult following over the years in its home of Japan. This year it is receiving a revival screening at the Fantasia International Film Festival. For that 21st century audience – myself included – it likely marks their first chance to see the film.

It is a short feature, running a hair over one hour, and appears to be shot in an ultra-grainy 16mm. It has a rough, blurry aesthetic that gives everything a weirdly dreamlike quality, and a loose handle on its narrative that gives everything a rather languid feel. Suzuki’s use of colour, particularly its striking opening scenes, are oddly rich and luxurious.

The end result is a film that is a little more difficult with which to engage than is entirely comfortable, but which boasts a strong emotional sense: something that you feel rather than think about too much.

Suehiro Akira plays Shinpei, a young man come to Tokyo from the country to reconnect with a female friend. She invites him to a party, which turns out to be a wake for Takachi (Imaizumi Koichi), a gay man who starred in straight pornographic films. The rumour is that he was murdered in a late night look-up gone wrong. Over the course of the film, fragments of Takachi’s final days come to light as he is remembered by his friends.

The cast – which also includes Hazuki Hotaro and Suzuki Keiko – gives emotive and believable performances. Imaizumi delivers an exceptional monologue towards the film’s end that is particularly powerful.

Looking for an Angel contains boys in love with boys, as well as boys in love with girls. It features a fair amount of sex, presented frankly rather than with any strong sense of the erotic. When initially promoting his film, Suzuki argued ‘it’s not straight, gay, queer, bisexual, non-sexual or porn. Looking for Angel is an anti-heterosexist movie’ – and that turns out to be a very accurate description.

Looking for an Angel screens tonight at the Fantasia International Film Festival. For more information, click here.