The Compatriots Actors Discuss Their Timely New Film About an Undocumented Gay Man

By Gary M. Kramer –

The Compatriots, out September 16 on VOD, is an affable comedy about a serious subject. Closeted high school student Javi (Rafael Silva) is feeling good after pitching a no-hitter, but when he kisses his teammate, Hunter (Denis Shepherd), at the afterparty, things get awkward between these best friends. Five years later, the guys reconnect when Javi has another uncomfortable issue—ICE has raided his workplace and Javi is hiding because he is undocumented.

To show his loyalty to his friend—and to impress his girlfriend Tracy (Caroline Portu)—Hunter decides to marry Javi to keep him in this country. Javi consults Steve (Brandon Grimes), a lawyer who counsels him about his case. Meanwhile, Hunter’s friend Ryan (Dakota Lustick) is eager to help two ICE agents return Javi to Peru.

Out actors Silva and Grimes chatted with me for the San Francisco Bay Times about their timely and topical film.

Gary M. Kramer: What appealed to you about this film and what research did you do on the topic?

Rafael Silva: I’m an immigrant. I came to this country when I was 9 years old. I very much aligned with Javi’s story. In so many different ways, his story is my story. To talk about this complex topic in a humane way was an opportunity to represent my community and be able to give people an inside look at what immigrants in this country go through on a day-to-day basis.

Gary M. Kramer: Javi feels like an outsider. He wants to fit in. He is anxious about his sexuality, about ICE, and about wanting to be who he is. What observations do you have about his character?

Rafael Silva: I think that Javi, at his core, yearns to be vulnerable and be open with people, but society at every turn has told him that it is dangerous to be open, truthful, and himself. The progression of the film shows him slowly coming to terms with all these different pieces of himself, and his character, that you can see reflected in all the other characters. There is something beautiful in Javi’s dad, who has a lot of love for his son. But his dad also has this fear that they have all these things stacked against them, and Javi wants to add gay to it as well. It has the back and forth of, “You don’t understand me,” and, “I’m trying to be something,” but there is love and understanding.

Immigrants who live in this country are going through that, even more so for undocumented immigrants. You do not want to draw attention to yourself. With everything going on now—we filmed this in 2023—it feels like it has gotten even worse. For me, Javi is a breath of fresh air. He steps into the spotlight even though he is afraid. The characters around Javi are supportive, kind, and loving, even though they don’t know what he is going through.

Gary M. Kramer: What backstory did you give Steve’s character?

Brandon Grimes: My approach to Steve was that he dives in with his whole heart, which you see through the party scene. It’s not even a second thought; of course, I’ll help you. It’s the kind of guy he is. You can tell from the way his office is set up that he takes on as much as he can chew and maybe a little more. I’m someone like Steve who tries to do all the good in the world I can. A lot of the function of Steve and [his husband] George (Jaison Hunter) in the film is to be these inspirational figures. The turning point is Hunter watching us walk home happily together. They are an idea [about] what a supportive relationship can be, and this sparks his ideas of pursuing this avenue. The role we have is to be a good model of [what] a good ally can be. 

Gary M. Kramer: Brandon, the film is very topical in regard to immigration issues. While it doesn’t cover all the details involved in a case like Javi’s, what can you say about the topicality of the film?

Brandon Grimes: Obviously, the situation has changed drastically since we’ve shot it, unfortunately. I like that the film doesn’t get too deep into the weeds about the process, and it is more about the emotional container of Javi’s identity within that. It is from the perspective of someone who is trying to be an ally—how you can be kind and helpful and on the lookout for how you can help people who might need it.

The culmination of the advice that Steve gives to Javi is really all you can do is lay low and hope for the best. The procedures have only gotten more hopeless. There is some awareness that, even though this is largely a light, funny heartfelt movie, it’s sinking for people that those who are undocumented are trying to go through the right channels and they are not available. This is the big takeaway for a fun, buddy film.

Rafael Silva: It’s a hard topic for a lot of people, obviously for the people going through it and for those with no experience with it. Hopefully, it serves as an entry point for getting involved and engaged and knowing how to participate. The film is about being a compatriot, and that means being from the same country. If we want a better country, we all have to get together and literally fight for and demand a better country.

Gary M. Kramer: Both of you get to dance in a gay club scene. Are you good dancers?

Brandon Grimes: I thought I was doing perfectly fine, and everyone thought I was hilarious.

Rafael Silva: I thought you were phenomenal.

Brandon Grimes: That scene is my favorite in the film—maybe I’m biased—but it’s such a beautiful representation of queer joy. It is not over-sexualized, like gay bars tend to be in movies. It was a celebration of being who you are, and I think it serves as a beautiful touch point in Javi’s character and his self-acceptance.

Rafael Silva: I tried to put a little salsa into that scene with Hunter. Hopefully it reads well. It’s liberating. Javi feels he can be himself in this space. That’s what’s so important in our society. There are these spaces that allow you to be yourself unapologetically, and that’s the beauty for me, regardless of whether you dance well or not. It’s about having fun and stepping into a version of ourselves that we love dearly.

© 2025 Gary M. Kramer

Gary M. Kramer is the author of “Independent Queer Cinema: Reviews and Interviews,” and the co-editor of “Directory of World Cinema: Argentina.” He teaches Short Attention Span Cinema at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute and is the moderator for Cinema Salon, a weekly film discussion group. Follow him on X @garymkramer

Film
Published on September 11, 2025