A very good independent film definitely worth watching. All three leads were outstanding, and I found myself never taking my eyes off them. Settings take a back seat to dialogue and an at-first-somewhat-seemingly-preposterous premise, well-written and thoughtful (Stewart Wade excels with his writing and direction). That dialogue is key, so hang on to every word by all three leads, be alert to cadences, pitch, tone, and nonverbal communication that comes from them. This is not just "another indie gay film"; it's making an extraordinarily powerful statement about socialization. Patrick Zeller as Beau is amazing, in showing us bit by bit how Beau evolves and is challenged by his norms. In some regard Zeller may have had the most difficult assignment here, portraying how Beau's known worlds and conventions are challenged and the difficulties he has in reconciling his own evolution. Paul Mascua as Caden is excellent as a free spirit who knows himself thoroughly. Leah McKendrick is unparalleled as Lily, conveying the journey of her character with such power. Kudos also to Shari Belafonte and Alexandra Paul for their excellence in minor roles and in being a part of Say Yes; I can only imagine how many scripts they have seen in throughout their careers, and I would like to think that their participation stemmed from their recognizing and participating in a unique gem of an indie.
Review of Say Yes
