Gabriel is a prostitute selling himself on the streets of Skid Row, Los Angeles.

He earns his keep by renting a room by the hour at the Peridot Motel and then robbing his unsuspecting clients for money to send to his family. Following a chance meeting with the older Martha, Gabriel’s life soon starts to change as the unlikely duo form an unconditional bond.

Peridot explores love and loss through two characters at very different stages of life. Martha is a widow, plus a bereaved mother and is slowly succumbing to illness. Gabriel in turn leads a dangerous life working the streets, exposed to the dark, seedy under belly of Los Angeles.

If you’re looking for a bit of a thirst trap, keep looking. The film opens up on an artistic set up with Gabriel at the centre and flirts with sexual tension but never goes all the way.

Peridot is more about companionship and the love that the characters find for one another. It’s also quite short with a run time of 62 minutes, so it doesn’t delve into its own story as much as it could have. On the off chance you didn’t already know, Peridot is a type of stone that is associated with good fortune and prosperity, which is what the characters bring to one another. There is also a spot of violence and drug use, so you’ve been warned.

Writer and Director Shayne Pax lists My Own Private Idaho a source of inspiration for Peridot. In case you haven’t seen the cult classic MOPI is a 90s flick starring Keanu Reeves and the late, great River Phoenix. The film shocked audiences at the time with its frank discussion of life as a gay hustler and the social inequalities that came with it.

Peridot follows suit with an unflinching depiction of life on the streets for Gabriel. You’ll feel the indie flick vibe throughout as Pax shows that despite a budget on the lower end, sometimes a story to tell is all that’s needed to bring an idea to life.

If you’re in the mood for something light hearted, why not check out Mascarpone a juicy rom-com about baking, Grindr and boys.

Available now from Peccadillo Pictures to stream.

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