Carmen Emmi's debut film 'Plainclothes,' presented at the Sundance Film Festival, depicts Lucas, a Syracuse cop who tricks gay men into restrooms for arrests. Set in the 1990s, it reflects on self-discovery and acceptance, merging Emmi's personal experiences with the story's narrative. Emmi's early inspiration stemmed from a 2016 article about similar undercover arrests, coinciding with his own coming out journey. Through the use of Hi8 footage, the film illustrates Lucas's inner turmoil, presenting a frenetic, dreamlike experience that resonates with anxieties surrounding identity and the societal gaze.
The film is a story of acceptance and self-discovery, an opportunity to tell my truth; it's also about killing the camera that exists in your head.
Lucas moves through the world with a twitchy confidence, trying not to let his own burgeoning sexual questioning get in the way of his job.
Carmen Emmi's film unfolds like a bad dream: nonlinear, frenetic, and stressful, showcasing the struggles of a plainclothes cop in the 1990s.
Emmi was inspired by an L.A. Times article about an undercover police officer arresting men in a park bathroom that related to his personal coming-out journey.
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