A quote from late American author and LGBTQ activist Paul Monette (Becoming a Man: Half a Life Story) opens the emotionally resonate drama Tu me manques and sets up the heartbreaking conflict audiences will see play out in a story about a father coming to terms with his gay son’s life after his death.

“Go without hate, but never without rage,” Monette’s words read. “Heal the world.”

Written and directed by Rodrigo Bellott and adapted from his own hit play, Tu me manques takes the nuanced mantra and places it at the heart of the film — a film which Bolivia chose as its official entry for Best International Feature at the 92nd annual Academy Awards. It’s through Bellott’s compassionate and strong-willed script that Tu me manques makes a lasting impression.

Set in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, the powerful first scene introduces viewers to Jorge (Oscar Martinez), a well-dressed father standing in his adult son Gabriel’s room looking inside his luggage. Jorge browses through his son’s clothes. He sees a blonde wig and a copy of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel The Great Gatsby in his bright red backpack. He then pulls out his son’s laptop, opens it, scans some of his social media pages, and accidentally Skypes Gabriel’s ex-boyfriend Sebastian (Fernando Barbosa) who lives in New York City.

Jorge knows that he is gay, but he’s a homophobe nonetheless. Anger and sadness permeate through his body as he talks to Sebastian face-to-face over video chat. Read more via Remezcla