At the beginning of “Learn to Swim,” Dezi (Thomas Antony Olajide) shakes his saxophone slightly against his lips. Canadian director Cylon Tommy cuts from that opening image into a beautiful, synchronized quintet in the club. Groove in the scene. The band’s trumpeters, Sid (Christophe Désir) and Desir, showcase their chemistry onstage. Guest vocalist Selma (Emma Ferreira) takes the mic and riffs, “See you. I’ll see you.” And isn’t that the spark of much romance? To be seen?
Selma and Desi begin an affair. Although starting is a difficult problem. Because their relationship is told through Dezi’s memories refracting through the prism of pain caused by broken hearts and the most common ailment, toothache.
Dezi’s abscesses and swollen jaws signal when he’s in a moody present or occupying a powerful, volatile past. Some of the wounds in this drama go beyond romantic, carrying the weight of the African diaspora. And here comes a no-nonsense black woman—Selma’s friend Jessie (Khadija Salau). Her next-door neighbor Sal (Andrea Davis) — alluding to the main character in need of nurturing.
In this feature-length directorial debut, which he co-wrote with Marnie Van Dyke, Tommy works well with his ensemble and is clearly intrigued by his emotional state…or at least those ideas. “Learn to Swim” is beautiful to watch, but the grumpy artist at the center often feels drowning in melancholy and might bring us down with him.
learn to swim
Unrated. Running time: 1 hour 30 minutes. watch on netflix.