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Reviews
The Family Tree (2020)
Life, Family and Friends
"THE FAMILY TREE"
Life, Family and Friends
Amos Lassen
I have been a huge fan of Panamanian director Jorge Ameer since I first began reviewing and, in fact, one of his films was one of the first I ever reviewed. I am lucky that Ameer gives me an early shot at his films just as he has done with his newest film "The Family Tree". I have watched Ameer and his films mature, I never know what to expect with an Ameer film-- his range is so wide and diverse. I was truly in the mood for a sensitive film and that is what "The Family Tree" is. It is also the best film he has made as yet. The plot is amazing, the cinematography is lush, the music is sublimely divine and the production as a whole is stunning. However, because of the nature of the plot, I can't say too much without giving something away and I want everyone to have the same beautiful experience I had watching it.
Roy (Michael Joseph Nelson) is married to Alina (Anais Lucia) in this Christmas story. They are eager to bring a child into the world but, it is just not happening for them. Victor (Keith Roenke), comes into their lives and changes everything.
The three main characters' lives become intertwined through a series of events that are unsuspected and strongly brings them together and perhaps bring happiness to Roy and Alina. I could not help being drawn into the emotions of what I was watching.
As the story moves forward, it touches the viewer evoking emotions especially when we meet Victor, a young workaholic animal rescuer for a local shelter. He is lonely and also an immigrant and he loves the Christmas holidays. When he was a child, Victor made dolls for the holidays, a Panamanian tradition. This year will be really special for him-- he will find love, friendship and especially family.
That Christmas something otherworldly enters the world as part of an old Panamanian tradition and through that Victor learns a great deal as does the audience. I love the inclusion of an old Panamanian tradition that is still practiced today.
Watching what happens on screen reminds us that we cannot let ourselves forget our good memories and how important it is to be with those who we love
The performances are unforgettable all around. In no way did I expect the sensations that the film delivered and it is with tears of sensitivity in my eyes that I am writing this review. Seeing the beauty of the film reinforces that there is never enough beauty in our lives.
Oasis (2017)
"In Here Life is Beautiful"
"Oasis"
"In Here Life is Beautiful"
Amos Lassen
If you have been following my reviews, you know that I am a fan of director Jorge Ameer. One of the films I reviewed was hit and he has given me the honor of being the first person to write a review of his work. Naturally when he told me that his new film "Oasis" was being screened at Cannes, I became very anxious to see it. Now that I have done so, I want to share with you news of his romantic thriller set in gorgeous Panama. It is the story of two friends whose lives and worlds intersect as they embark on a journey of self-discovery as well as of each other as they visit some of the most beautiful places in the world that are located in the lush country of Panama. Visually, the movie is a feast for the eyes and I don't mean just the scenery.
While on business in Panama, Andrew (Matt Lynn) visits his friend Oliver (Cesar De Fuentes). Andrew had in his mind that Oliver was doing fine and is surprised to discover that this is not true. It seems that there is trouble and Andrew realizes that when he hear Oliver arguing with his wife, Constancia (Katia Semacaritt). The couple has a daughter but we learn that Oliver lives by appearances and is deeply in debt. When Andrew realizes the truth of his friend, he offers some relief by inviting him to go to some of the more exotic and tropical locales in Panama with the hope that the two men will be able to pick up where their friendship stopped before this trip. What we the learn is that Andrew, however, has his own problems and these problems are put to the test one nigh when a mysterious indigent tells Andrew that he can help him see the future.. Problems that one night are challenged when he meets a mysterious indigent who claims he can help Andrew see the future. I am not sure what Andrew was thinking but he bought the latest synthetic hallucinogenic street drug as a way to stop the indigent from stalking him. Soon, both men experience something sinister, as their curiosity for this drug changes the course of their trip and their lives.
A word of warning— it is very easy to surmise what is going to happen here if you paid attention to the way I thinly wrote about the plot. Do not make any suppositions because you will probably be wrong. It is important to know that Andrew and Oliver are from different social classes and this, of course, does affect them and it thereby affects the film as well.
"Oasis" as the title of the film is perfect in that it describes the beauty of Panama as well as the respite the two men find when they are away from it and exploring the country's beautiful places. It is the peace they find when they are together and not part of the mundane world around them. I can't say any more about the plot without giving something away but I can say something about Jorge Ameer's direction which is perfect. I have always been told that the sign of a fine director is when you do not feels his/her presence. Under Ameer's direction the story flows beautifully. Like I said before, the setting is magnificent and it is wonderfully captured. The actors are also excellent so prepare yourself for a film you will not soon forget. This is a film that deserves 5 GOLD STARS.
Medusa (2015)
Summoning the Spirit
"MEDUSA"
Summoning the Spirit
Amos Lassen
What I love about Jorge Ameer's films is that I am always left with something to think about. I have been hearing about "Medusa" for sometime now but had not been able to learn much about it. Therefore I was super pleased when I had the chance to have a private look.
In the film we meet mythology professor, Jack Peruci (Jeff Allen) who has managed to get his hands on an antique mirror from a very shady witch doctor, Kao (played by director Jorge Ameer). What Peruci did not know was the mirror is haunted and he learns this by examining it closely when he gets it home. As he studies the mirror, he has several supernatural experiences and the more time that he spends with the mirror, the more involved he becomes with the strange forces behind it. Because of his field of study, he think he understands what is going on until it turns evil and he realizes that he might be in danger.
A dedicated mythology professor (Jeff Allen) finds an evil witch doctor (Jorge Ameer) that summons the spirit of the gorgon Medusa. The gorgon Medusa tries to take his soul and she does whatever possible to react that end. At this point in the film, the viewer must suspend disbelief and let him/herself go and just become part of the film. Since we live in a modern world, we sometimes have trouble believing in the supernatural but I can tell you this film is so convincing that I do not see how it is possible not to believe. It is Ameer's skill as a director that he uses to pull us into the action and it happens without our even realizing it.
Medusa uses her supernatural powers to gain Jack's soul and she wants it so badly that she goes as far as to manipulate Jack's surroundings and this causing chaos in his life and thereby hoping to be able to enter his world. He is to be, for her, a vessel of resurrection. She manages to affect Jack's dreams and turn them into nightmares and as they become stronger, Jack seeks help. He turns to his friend, Stephen Craig (Tom Stuckhoff), a psychologist whose field is hypnotherapy hoping that will help him to understand what is going on and to solve the mystery of Medusa. But things do not work out as he had hoped and when Craig examines him, he discovers that is Peruci's bloodline is what is causing the nightmares and this quite simply hurts his ability to fight what is happening since it is already a part of him.
Ameer gives us a contemporary Gothic thriller and he succeeds in not only winning our attention but also has us begin to believe what we see on the screen. Crafted with style, there is a darkness that is frightening, riveting and keeps us on the edge of your seats . After its world premiere at the Cannes Film on May 17, 2015.
Deaf Heaven (1993)
Comparing AIDS to the Holocaust
"Deaf Heaven"
Comparing AIDS and the Holocaust
Amos Lassen
Paul's lover is dying from AIDS and he has lapsed into dementia. Our sick boy imagines himself traveling around the world and we realize that his death is near. Doctors are forced to decide, because of no living will, if he can stay in the hospital with his lover or be sent to his home to die near his parents who have had no contact with him. Paul realizes that he has little choice in the matter and after a long swim to take his mind off of the impending loss of his partner begins to cry in the sauna at his health club. An old Jew who happens to be there tells of how his family perished in Auschwitz right before his eyes.
Paul's lover, maintaining a brief spell of sanity, tells his doctor that Paul is his family and that their home is his home and responds that to go home to his parents who live in Kansas would mean instant death. He wants to stay with his lover.
Paul reflects on what the old Jew has said to him and he realizes that AIDS and the Holocaust are related in that in both people watched their loved ones die. The old man tells Paul that he will survive for a long time and Paul, like himself, will become a witness to history.
There is a question as to whether or not Paul actually saw the old Jew or was he a representation of God. The film, short as it is at 25 minutes, draws a clear parallel between the two most terrible times in the history of the world. In both we lost families, friends and an entire population of people were no more. Beautifully directed and extremely sensitive, here is a film of sensitivity and emotion that is not often seen and is a testament to man's inhumanity to man—like the Holocaust, no one spoke out about AIDS until it was too late. In the case of both tragedies, we are still paying the price and the loss of beautiful lives is quite a cost.
The Last Straight Man (2014)
A 12 Year Long One Night Stand
"The Last Straight Man"
A 12 Year Long One Night Stand
Amos Lassen
"The Last Straight Man" is going to be one of the movies of the year, I predict. Director Mark Bessenger ("Bite Marks") sent me at advance copy and I watched it last night. It has been on my mind ever since. Evidently I am not alone in praising the film because this morning 8/10/14 it won the Alternative Spirit Award Grand Prize at the Rhode Island International Film Festival! This the first year they've split the features away from the shorts, into separate categories.
Now this is going to be a bit difficult to describe the film without giving something away but I will say that this is a movie filled with surprises. It is all about a one-night stand that lasts for 12 years. I must admit that after the first few minutes of the film I thought I had it all figured out but to my chagrin it took a totally different direction than what I expected. The film opens at Cooper's bachelor party and we see some exotic dancing from a hired female stripper but we also notice that one of the party guests does not get involved. Moving a bit forward we are in Lewis's (Mark Cirillo) hotel suite and with Lewis (the one who did not get involved with the lap dancing) and Cooper (Scott Sell). They are talking about life will be different once Coop gets married and he talks Lewis into having a couple of tequila shots and playing the game, "Three Questions" which is important because we will see it recur later.
In the course of the evening Lewis comes out as bisexual and he does so in the answer to one of the three questions. One thing leads to another and adding alcohol, the new men exchange oral sex. According to Cooper this will never happen again yet it does every year on the same date for the next eleven years. Over the course of twelve years, we see four additional nights that depict how the two men grow and how their friendship changes as they mature and age—Coop becomes a father, Lewis remains a loner and so on. There are certain rules to their meetings—booze, cigars, condoms and lube and eventually Lewis moves from bottom to top Cooper who never admits to being gay. He is a married man but we hear very little about the wife and I had the feeling that the reason that Coop married her was because of societal expectations.
We see a total of five nights (including the first) that the two men spend together and how their relationship changes. Sexuality is a complex subject and in this film you see how much that is true. It is also of the few films in which the leads begin as bisexuals yet we only see them act on their gay desires. In fact, when we first meet Lewis and Coop they are both closeted—Lewis has at least acted on his desire but Coop will act the first time with his best friend.
The two men decide to meet secretly in the same hotel and on the same night with the pretext of catching up with their lives but they actually further explore their sexual desires. We see the changes in friendship and relationship over the passage of twelve years.
I really believe that this will be one of the films of this year if not THE film. Everything about it is wonderful from the actors to the situations and if any of you have lusted after someone you will find yourself here. Bessenger has made yet another film of which he can be proud and we can be entertained and left with something to think about. I rarely rave about a film but this one is really one to rave about.
Jorge Ameer Presents Straight Men & the Men Who Love Them 3 (2014)
Sexual Fluidity
"Straight Men & the Men Who Love Them 3"
Sexual Fluidity
Amos Lassen
Four short films explores sexuality and the complexities of relationships that sometimes become volatile. The films here deal with situations of friendship and hidden attractions, societal expectations, stereotypes and traditional values.
Jorge Ameer gives us "Quarters" which takes place the night before Paul is to be married. He is with his childhood friend Jeremy and they are drinking and playing Quarters. As the stakes are raised, the confessions begin and so do the dares making this a night that neither guy will forget.
From Sweden, director Anna Osterund Nolskog brings us "Boy Game" about two 15 year old best friends who are both interested in girls but are insecure about acting having sex with one of them. They decide that it would be best to practice on each other. Will their friendship last beyond this?
Early One Summer" from the United Kingdom and directed by Gary Thomas is about Dave who goes on a camping trip with his physical education teacher. He thought that something amazing would happen and it did but you will have to see the movie to find out what it is.
Director Yee Lam Wong brings us "From Here to There" (Hong Kong) about two friends who meet up again ten years later at a wedding banquet. As they sit next to each other, they are reminded that they had done the same when they were younger. Jae takes his friend who has had too much to drink home and on the trip they reviewed their friendship and realize that something has been lost forever.
Hide (2010)
Expectations, Obligations and Reality
"HIDE"
Expectations, Obligations and Reality Amos Lassen
Sometimes a short film can say in several minutes that which longer films try to get across but still do not manage to do. Perhaps that is why we tend to remember pivotal scenes and not whole films. I feel quite confidant in stating that anyone who sees Robert Shelby's "Hide" will remember the film for a very long time. It is centered on an issue that many people of my generation have witnessed or been a part of and for that reason alone, we can consider this an important film (but there are several other reasons as well).
We are raised with certain expectations and obligations that are put upon us—by family, society, friends and usually the choices we make are based upon them. When we make a bad choice, we are reminded of it by ourselves and by others. Our goals tend to come out of the expectations of others and even the in the twentieth-first century with all of its diversity, the house with the picket fence, the wife and the children are still part of the expectations of many. Our main characters, Rick and Matthew were fine with this until they met face to face one day and their worlds collided. They both realize that had they lived their lives differently and according to what they wanted and not what was expected by others, that everything would have been different. Instead, they each married and fathered children and sublimated their true feelings for the sake of the larger society. Then they discover what "might have been" and they are faced with the decision of whether it was worth it or not. Here is the study of two men who lived in the closet and hid from their sexuality and who uncover it to be who they really are. They are both trapped in marriages of convenience and it is there that they discover the "consequences of what they may have to tell their wives and what the future might hold for their relationship".
I have rarely seen films that are perfect but here is one that is very close to it. The story line is very real and very relevant, the cinematography is beautiful and the direction is flawless. But there is something else and that is the incredible performances of Daamen Krall and David Zimmerman as Rick and Matthew. As I watched, my heart ached for them and I was suddenly taken back to a time when I had to decide who I was. Additionally this is a film made about the "forgotten" generation of gay men—the "older" men and we realize that they are as much a part of us as we are a part of them. This is a stunning piece of filmmaking that should not be missed—not by the young who one day will become the Ricks and Matthews and not by the old, who been there and lived through what we see.
The Dark Side of Love (2012)
Finding Destiny
"THE DARK SIDE OF LOVE" Finding Destiny Amos Lassen Jorge Ameer is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated directors working in gay cinema and I suspect that the reason for that is that he makes us think. His movies are always entertaining but they also have something extra that causes us to evaluate what we have seen. His new film, "The Dark Side of Love" takes a look at identity and destiny as if affects four people whose lives come together as they search for who they are and where they are going. Steven (Harsha First)) is our guide here and he takes us by the hand early on and leads us into the film. With the theme of the universality of love, we are shown the four characters who must make decisions that will affect their lives.
Two brothers; Julian (Carlos Sales), a waiter and gay, Michael (Jason Susag), an abusive drug addict fight to gain control of their lives which seem to be going in the wrong direction. Julian develops a crush on a bachelor (who he meets in a very clever way) while the other brother, because of his drug habit and his feelings about his gay brother, has lost touch with reality and has trouble controlling his life. The brothers have been estranged but they are forced to come together with the death of their mother so that they can plan her funeral—a taxing situation, to say the least. Since they do not get along, their "relationship" tests both of them. It is so very difficult to prepare for the death of a parent and even though everything may well be worked out ahead of time, the actual death is not just heartbreaking but trying. Regardless of how they feel about each other, they are brothers and even when tempers flare up and emotions get very high, they know that this is the time to say goodbye to the woman who gave them life. Each brother is forced to look within himself and deal with his feelings, his anger and range and his prejudices.
Steven, our bachelor is looking for a wife and he is not really in the picture like the brothers but his role becomes very important later. When Julian goes home to prepare for the funeral, Steve surprisingly appears at his home with the excuse that Julian should not have to face the ordeal alone. What is so interesting here is that Steven maintains that he is straight and the he and Julian actually only met several days before. There is another character, Chanel (Raquel Rossner), Michael's girlfriend who comes along with Michael when he goes home to bury his mother.
As the brothers prepare to say goodbye to their mother, old wounds are reopened and they are forced to deal with the fact that what was once a family is no more. The death of the mother is the pivot around which the film revolves. As we enter the world of Julian, Michael, Steven and Chanel, we find that each is searching for identity and we are part of that quest.
This is a dark film as the name suggests and the beginning is quite shocking. The cinematography goes right along with the theme of darkness and there are few scenes with bright light. Some might find this depressing but I actually found it interesting especially when we see light at the end.
Ameer not only directs but he also wrote the screenplay and produced and actually appears in a small role. I must say that it took me a bit to get into the film but I soon found myself glued to the screen as I watched and I wanted to know how everything would turn out. The actors give fine performances and I found myself at one point thinking about the meaningfulness of life. When Julian goes to the funeral home (before he is aware of the details his mother has left for her sons) to pick out a coffin, I found myself thinking that after having lived on earth for a lifetime, we are relegated to spend eternity in a box somewhere beneath the earth and that bothers me. I do not know why I never thought about it before and I find it very interesting that it was Ameer's film that brought that home. We are all just passing through and when it is over, it is over.
D'Agostino (2012)
A Very Strange Engrossing Film
"D'Agostino" A Very Strange Engrossing Film Amos Lassen I had just finished watching Jorge Ameer's newest film and honestly I did not know what to think about it except that it had totally pulled me in. So I played in a second time and found myself completely absorbed by it. It is quite basically a tale of horror which later becomes something else altogether so I suppose I have to say it is macabre to a point but it is so much more than that. Allen Dawson inherited an apartment in Santorini, Greece. He learned that his grandmother willed it to him but he had to go to Greece to take care of the property transfer. He discovers a human clone in the apartment and decides that it or D'Agostino (who he nicknames Diablo) is to become his new best friend even though the only human quality that the clone possesses is his appearance.
We learn that the clone had been on a transatlantic voyage from Italy to America when there was a crash and he had been left for dead. He had been commissioned by men with wealth and was to be used for organ transplants but he had been abandoned. In the meantime, Dawson learns of his inheritance and leaves his home which he had been sharing with his girlfriend and goes to Santorini where he finds the abandoned clone. Through Diablo, Dawson comes to learn more about himself as he decides to make the clone his best friend. Dawson also realizes that his relationship with his fiancée is a sham and that it is going nowhere and he is bored with and upset that he gets nothing out of it. He realizes that he is trapped in a sedentary existence and that his prospects for future happiness do not look good so when he receives news of the inheritance he knows that he has a chance to get away from his him-drum life and travels to Greece alone. He understands that his life has been little more than an obstruction but he is also not quite ready to deal with what he finds. He quickly sees that with his new property his outlook on life changes and then changes once again when he meets D'Agostino.
At first Dawson s befuddled by the clone and has no idea of how to deal with him but as the two interact we see that his state of mind becomes quite strange and he becomes both ruthless and cruel but as he gets to know the clone, we watch him become victim to his own moral perversion which later creates a reaction that causes him to fall victim to his actions. How and what that is will be something for you to discover when you see the film and regardless of what I say, there is no way to prepare the viewer for what he sees.
The version I was an unedited screener but I could still tell that the cinematography was beautiful and Greece of course leads itself to creating beauty on the screen. Yet when the film is dark, it is very dark. Hats off to the actors who play Dawson and the clone and to Ameer himself in his performance as the man who has been watching the property. I cannot say that this is a film I enjoyed but I can say that it is well done. Enjoy just does not seem the right word to describe it. If you get the chance to see this film, do not hesitate.
The Seder (2011)
A Slice of Life
"The Seder"
A Slice of Life
Amos Lassen
This is quite a year for LBGT movies with Jewish themes and I am really glad to see that. I just watched an amazing twelve minute short, "The Seder" which really blew me away. I was expecting a comedy but instead got a hard look at life and acceptance. The Seder, for those of you who do not know, is the ceremonial Passover meal that commemorates and celebrates the exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt and it is familiarly known as the holiday of freedom. What better time is there for gay people to be who they are, to come out and to celebrate difference? Mitchell (David Looza) decides to bring his boyfriend Leo (Adam Rodness) home for the very first time to the Seder and introduce him to his parents as the person he loves. We get the feeling that everyone is nervous—Leo, his mother and Mitchell. His father is okay but then he has been out in the back toking on a joint and nothing seems to bother him. Waiting for the Seder to begin are Leo's parents and grandmother as well as the rabbi who tires very hard to convince mom that Mitchell is doing the right thing by using the Seder to announce his love for Leo. After all, like the children of Israel, he is proclaiming his freedom. The production values of the film are excellent and I was sorry to see it end. I would love to see it developed into a full length film but then, perhaps, it might lose some of its punch. As it is, it makes quite a powerful statement. Leo and Mitchell have a job to do and they are not too eager to do it for fear for either hurting someone or fear of non-acceptance. Theresa Tova as mother is THE Jewish mother who worries about how things will go and she knows what her son is about to do. The dad (Harvey Atkin, who reminded me much of my own father---physically) seems to let nothing bother him. While we are speaking about acceptance, you should know that Leo's sister is married to a black man and they have a child with a huge Afro. Interesting that the mother should worry about their son being gay and involved when their daughter has given birth to problems of a different nature. The ending came as a total surprise but thinking about it in retrospect, I realize now that this is the only way it could end and that last scene is something that you will not forget. "The Seder" is finding a place on my "Best List" simply because it really spoke to me. Everything about the film is perfection, even the tiniest detail. Justin Kelly has written and directed a film of which he can be very, very proud as can everyone affiliated with this delightful look at the way we live.
This Is What Love in Action Looks Like (2011)
An Amazing Documentary
"This is What Love in Action Looks Like"
An Amazing Documentary
Amos Lassen
I just had the good luck to see a film that is currently on the festival circuit and decided to review it now instead of waiting and letting what I saw sink in. Set in Memphis in 2005, Zach, a 16 year old wrote on his My Space blog that he had just come out to his parents and they did not take it very well. In fact the very next day they began it make plans for their son—they decided to send him a Fundamentalist Christian program that works with gay teens and turns them straight. The film follows Zach and what happened to him and how his friends and the LGBT community stood up for Zach and began daily protests at the Refuge program at Love in Action. I do not remember reading or hearing about this anywhere but that could be because I was just not paying attention—after all 2005 was a bad year for me with Katrina changing my life in ways I could never have dreamed of. And now that I am living in Little Rock, just two hours away from Memphis, I wonder why I didn't know more about this. Be that as it may, all of us will be hearing about it with the release of this excellent documentary from Morgan Jon Fox.
This is one of the most amazing and interesting documentaries that I have seen and that with the fact that it has a very strong message makes it so important. A novel approach, Fox begins his film with pages from Zach's online blog and it is heartbreaking to read that a 16 year old wrote:
May 29, 2005 The World Coming To An Abrupt Stop Current mood: depressed "Today, my mother, father, and I had a very long 'talk' in my room where they let me know I am to apply for a fundamentalist Christian program for gays. They tell me that there is something psychologically wrong with me" and then he learns that he is going into a program that sees homosexuality as an addictive behavior and therefore it can be cured by using the necessary methods. Zach's parents hoped that gayness, his addiction would be cured and when he wrote this in his blog his friends rallied to support him. Soon Zach's story was not heard about in Memphis but it also began to appear in the nationwide media. Zach himself could not speak openly about what happened since the program would not allow him to have any kind of access to the media and he was not allowed to talk to his friends who were not in the program. His friends mobilized and brought in others and protests began. At the same time people everywhere wanted to know how he was doing. He was to be at the Refuge for eight weeks and by the time his "reorganization" was doing OK, people began to worry.
It did not take long for national news stations to become involved and the international press also came on board. The film follows the events that caused the story to go national and then international. Ultimately the protests were successful in that the state of Tennessee investigated Love in Action and ordered it closed only to cause Love in Action turn around and file suit against the state. It is a fascinating story and a wonderful look at a concerned group o people that reacted to parents shaming their child and having him put into a radical institution that cannot do what it says it can. We also hear from Zach himself and he had decided that he didn't want to be contacted after his stay at Refuge.
We are privy to the requirements of Love in Action/Refuge and they are shocking. Like Zach says, "it was like boot camp, only worse". At the institution (and I use that word loosely), young gay men and women are drilled on how to think and act "straight".
I commend the author for having the courage to make this film especially in Tennessee where the state legislature has banned any reference to homosexuality from the school curriculum. I understand that the film has been six years in the making and Fox has every reason to be proud of what he has done. The film looks at a piece of American history as well as a call to us to realize that there is still much more that we need to fight for. Fox has been very lucky to have the film accepted to the major LGBT festivals especially to Frameline 35 in San Francisco. If you have a chance to see it, do so by all means otherwise toy will have to wait for the DVD release.
In 2007, Refuge was shut down and in fact the director, John Smid, not only left Love in Action but wrote a letter of apology to those he has hurt. There is so much more that I could say but to do would take away from your experience of seeing the film and that is something that I will not do so.
Slant (2011)
Finding Love
"Slant" Finding Love Amos Lassen I have just had the pleasure of watching an amazing new short film from Steve Soucy, the wonderful mind behind Modernist Press. Here is a film that many of us should have no problem identifying with as the search for love is something we have all experienced. Set in Palm Springs, a college professor, Ash (Christopher Fairbanks), in his 50's looks for romance. He lost his partner to AIDS some time ago and now he is ready to start to live again. The film is inspired by a poem by the Belle of Amherst, Emily Dickinson and she is not just the inspiration as she can be felt throughout the film.
Ash, like so many of us is blinded by the vigor and beauty of youth and in his case, Luis (David Calderon), the gardener is the object of his feeling. Even more surprising is that Luis shows a knowledge of Dickinson and Ash senses a connection only to be turned down for a drink and then stood up for dinner. By chance he meets a new neighbor, Patrick (Granville Armes), and after a pleasant conversation and a tentative meeting set, Patrick shows up at Ash's apartment with a bottle of wine and the two share the dinner that Ash had prepared for Luis.
Sometimes we just read signals wrong as Ash did when he assumed that Luis' love for Dickinson would be a step to coming together. Realizing that perhaps he has made a mistake, Ash ultimately finds someone with whom he shares a history like his own and that coming together was completely natural and required no preparation.
It is amazing how much we see in such a short film (some 14 minutes). I thought it particularly interesting that when Ash thought that he was going to have time with Luis, he was careful in what he chose to wear and how to prepare for dinner while with Patrick no preparation was necessary. So often we, as older men, are flattered when a young person pays attention to us and we read the signals wrong. It is that much easier to be with someone with whom there are commonalities than it is to train someone to like what we like. It is also easier (albeit lonelier) to let things happen naturally.
We do not often see films in which "older"men find love and each other and seeing that here was fresh and new. I must mention the beautiful music score and the actors who are so good that we easily feel what they do.
Check your local LGBT Film Festivals schedules—you do not want to miss "Slant".
The Love Patient (2011)
Wonderful
"The Love Patient"
Wonderful
Amos Lassen
I just read two of the scathing reviews posted here about this film and I am convinced that the reviewers and I did not see the same film. If we did, they obviously were not watching.
I can't think of too many films that I love from the moment I begin watching but I must say that Michael Simon's "The Love Patient" had me from the moment it began. Everything about it is very professional and the actors are beautiful to look at. Romantic comedy can be a very tricky genre since the film industry has been so filled with them. Finding something new cannot be too easy and balancing romance with comedy can be somewhat hard to do. Michael Simon does it and does it with style. How often does one watch a film with a smile on his face all the way through? I was very lucky that no one dropped in because I grinned all the way through the film.
The story is simple. Paul (Benjamin Lutz) is an advertising executive who lost his boyfriend, Brad (John Werskey who is very easy on the eyes) when he dumped him and Paul has never gotten over this. Brad moved on and is dating Ted (Jackson Palmer) and he understands that what was is over. Paul, on the other hand, cannot get over the loss of Brad and it is even more difficult in that they work at the same place. Paul comes up with a scheme to get Brad back– he stages his own cancer diagnosis and he thinks that Brad will come back to him out of sympathy. But then Paul's whole mispoocha (family—mother, father and sister) move into his house so they will be there to nurse him through his chemo treatments. Stephanie, Paul's very rich sister, suspects something is not kosher and the fun begins. The scene with the family eating dinner on a Friday evening won me over totally. Mother Esther lights the Sabbath candles and Paul says, "Enough with the Judaism". I laughed uncontrollably but there is something very serious here– how we turn to religion when we need something
like a cure for cancer.
I love, love, love this movie and the mixture of grief (from cancer), love, laughs and fun is absolutely wonderful. The characters are outrageous but believable. The acting is fine with just the right amount of kitsch; the cinematography is beautiful and Simon's direction is excellent. The film premieres at Philadelphia's QFest this summer so if you are around, make sure you see it or you will have to wait for a DVD release and as far as I know there is no information on that. Werskey and Lutz are also in another film on the festival circuit this summer, "Bite Marks" which I also recently reviewed. The two films are totally different in every aspect and we are very lucky when we get a GOOD gay romantic comedy as they are few and far between. So I ask myself, what happens when you put good looking men together with a literate plot, excellent direction and fine acting? You get a hit and that is exactly what "The Love Patient" is.
I just find it strange that the other reviewers chose to nitpick rather than sit back and enjoy the film. I find it sad when people take out their frustrations by panning something that others like. I see no point to it and it is just not fair.
Flight of the Cardinal (2010)
A Weekend at the Lodge
"Flight of the Cardinal"
A Weekend at the Lodge
Amos Lassen
Beetle Hobbs (David J. Bonner) lives is a small town that is very confining and he wants out. When he meets Grady Wilson (Ross Beschler), he sees a chance to get away. Grady has movied to the Smoky Mountains to run a resort and Beetle gets a job working for him. Robert Gatson takes us through a suspenseful experience as the film keeps us on the edge of our seats. There is more than suspense—there is comedy and drama as well, fine performances, beautiful cinematography and a wonderfully literate screenplay. Past meets present and futures are at risk and a group of friends come together for a weekend at Grady's lodge. Grady decided to give his life a new start by taking over the lodge. His boyfriend, Andy (Matthew Montgomery in yet another excellent performance), is coming to visit for the weekend along with two other friends, Karen and Rye. Grady has plans to ask Andy to marry him but tensions come along with the guests and the weekend turns out not to be what was expected. When the group realizes that there is someone else staying at the lodge this weekend—Beetle, a small time drug dealer who is now homeless and Grady allows him to stay in exchange fkor a shift's work. Beetle has a plan and as we learn of Grady's past, Beetle begins to develop an idea which he can use. Gaston both wrote and directed the film and he gives us a treat. I love the way things slowly come to light, bit by bit and the same is true of the way we get to know the characters, bit by bit. This is an amazing experience in filmmaking and while the film will leave you shaken, it also leaves you with a sense of having seen something really worthwhile. Beetle was able to cash in on the fact that Grady acted strangely when his guests come to visit. As Grady's character falls apart, Beetle's solidifies and this is the emphasis of the film. Gaston concentrates on his characters, all of whom turn in excellent performances. I think the fact that we really never get to know how Beetle feels about anything adds a great deal of mystery to the film. I love a film that leaves me thinking and that is what happens here. The fact that Beetle is a character that is both weak and strong allows him to remain an enigma long after the film is over.
The Stranger in Us (2010)
Intriguing and Beautiful
"The Stranger in Us"
Intriguing and Beautiful
Amos Lassen
"The Stranger in Us" is the story of a young aspiring poet named Anthony who follows Stephen. His lover and a successful therapist–across the country to San Francisco and they begin to build a life together. Everything fine until Stephen becomes very angry. From here to say anything else about the plot would give just too much away but Anthony has a hard time handling Stephen's anger and seeks an escape and finds himself in a very strange place. The story is not told chronologically—it is presented to us out of sequence and the movie moves back and forth as Anthony thinks about the past and what has led him to this point. At the start of the film, things seem totally confusing and in fact there is even repetition of certain scenes as we enter the Anthony's mind. I would have to classify this as a psychological drama and as we begin to understand what is happening, it is akin to being emotionally slapped across the face. The film is a raw look at urban life and we often feel like voyeurs, spying on the actors as they deliver incredibly realistic performances. It is a film that you will not soon forget. It will grab you and hold you and you will find that it is very difficult to let go. We come face to face with the beauty and the horror of the city at night as San Francisco, the setting for the film also becomes a character in it. Anthony is a small-town boy from Virginia who came to the city to be with his lover, Stephen (Scott Cox) who suddenly becomes abusive. Anthony out of desperation for companionship becomes friendly with Gavin (Adam Perez) a barely legal runaway and homeless street hustler, who has his own rough past. Anthony is a poet and he uses his poetry to try to understand where his life has taken him and to make some sense of it. He looks to the street for compassion and understanding. Anthony arrived in San Francisco wide-eyed and eager to build a life there but everything fell apart when Stephen began his angry outbursts. He had not known Stephen well yet he was dazzled enough by him to leave home and follow him. Anthony spends his days working in the concession area of a local movie theater and at night he wanders the city's streets, finding momentary solace in the beds of strangers listening to the love and torch songs and of a chanteuse (singer Veronica Klaus, in a lovely cameo). Gavin, a young runaway and hustler and Anthony become "friends" and Gavin becomes Anthony's guide, helper and watchman. However Gavin enjoys con games and scams too much and the novelty wears off for him. They both long for some kind of stability and they are devoted to each other which seems a contradiction to the previous sentence. Scott Boswell directed this gem of a film and he gives us the theme of the pleasure and the pain of losing oneself in the city and then regaining oneself nevertheless. This is a difficult film for those who have had similar experiences and Boswell has captured reality in all of its forms.Each of the characters face a tough time and for two of them it just seems to keep getting tougher until they find each other. The screenplay is amazing and allows the actors to give their all which they beautifully do—there is not a weak performance here. Raphael Barker's "Anthony" is perfection; he is the epitome of the boy/hustler/poet type. He is a complex character who thinks a lot—he is both sympathetic and reproachful, and he is tender and filled with passion (like a true poet).Adam Perez's "Gavin" is strong and physically beautiful. He is Anthony's fallen angel and when the two are together, it is electric. Scott Cox gives "Stephen" is interesting. He is the older man who has the resources to keep the good looking young poet and he is a manipulator. The film is a work of art. It challenges and it is hard and raw but it is about life and that is exactly what life is. It is one of the best so far this year and for a directorial debut, Scott Boswell has every reason to be very proud.
Crush (2009)
Gay Romantic Love
"Crush"
Gay Romantic Love
Amos Lassen
I just finished watching an advance screener of Michael J. Saul's new film "Crush" and let me say from the get-go that it literally blew me away. The film is made up of four stories, each of about twenty minutes about different aspects of gay romance and each story is quite moving. We see also what love is and how it affects the characters. What I especially like about the film is that although the stories are about gay men, what they have to say is true for any gender and that love is what it is no matter the gender of those involved. The first story is "Don't Ask" and it is about an interracial couple—Cameron (Stephen Tyrone Williams), an African American and James (Sean Edward), A Caucasian. I note the fact tat they are of different races only because it is so evident in the film. In no way does this fact influence how they feel about each other or the plot of the film but it is nice to see an interracial couple so much in love and portrayed as such on the screen. The two have been together for four years and for most of that period Cameron has been on duty in Iraq. We meet him when he is on leave before his second tour. The two are obviously very much in love and they want to spend as much time together before he leaves. When they do go out to meet friends, Cameron is forced to defend himself to a pacifist when she wants to know why he is still fighting in a useless war. Cameron and James are deeply in love and we see the pain in both of their eyes when Cameron leaves and James stays home and lives in fear that his lover may not return. There is no real resolution here as the focus of the film is on the love they share and how it is a reflection of what so many go through on a daily basis. "Bloodline" is the story of Gerald (Rob Westin), a cute gay Goth who finally is able to talk to the good looking Asian, Christian (Nick Endres), who is in his class. Gerald has an idea that Christian was interested in him and he learns that he is right. There is a hitch here—Christian is a vampire. In a very short period the two seem to fall in love and hide their feelings. Of course, Christian has something else to hide as well. The two guys turn in incredible performances and I really did not want this story to end. The ending is left open but the viewer can surmise where the two are going. My favorite of the four is "Strokes", a story about hero worship. The actors are wonderful and the script is a jewel. Jorge Diaz is Michael Lopez, an art student who has gotten the job of intern to the artist whose work he adores, Robert Brooks (Marc Sicilani). Michael soon learns that his hero is not at all when he thought he was; he is just not a nice person and is both eccentric and reclusive while still being an artist of genius. He has no respect for those around him and Michael's dreams are smashed even though he is turned on sexually by the man. As I said before, Diaz is excellent but Sicilani is as good and the two guys dominate the screen. Finally, there is "Breathe" which as one of the cutest boys you will ever see—Kyle Fain. Michael Saul, the director of all of the shorts, narrates this film and it speaks to everyone who has ever fallen in love for the first time (I guess that is everyone). Dennis Yeap plays a quiet, young gay boy who is a loner. He just happens to harbor feelings of love and lust for the most popular and best looking boy at his school. He aches over this young man and then when his parents become friends with his desire's parents, he has that much extra pain especially when the two families take a camping trip together. What a beautiful film that is sure to awaken memories for all who see it! The writing is gorgeous, the cinematography stuns and the boys are just too cute. (By the way, I learned from the extras on the DVD that this is the director's autobiographical contribution to the film). It is rare to get a collection of shorts where each film is a gem but here one is. I found myself thinking about until late into the night.
You Should Meet My Son! (2010)
A Mother's Job is Never Done
"You Should Meet My Son" A Mother's Job is Never Done Amos Lassen When conservative Southern mother Mae learns that her only son is gay, she decides that he is not to go through life alone and starts looking for the ideal husband for him. Do I have to say that this is a comedy? Not only is it is a comedy but it is very sweet and a wonderful movie experience.
This is director and screenwriter Keith Hartman's feature debut and it is about the mom and aunt everyone wishes they have. Mae (JoAnne McGee) is a Southern mother who just wants the best for her son Brian (Stewart Carrico). Mae and her sister Rose (Carol Goans) invite Brian and every single girl in town over most Friday nights to meet Brian. (I can't help but think that Mae also should be a Jewish mother as well). Brian, however, always brings his "special friend and roommate." Finally mom and aunt understand but they help with a survey in a magazine called "Is Your Son Gay"? That doesn't stop them and now they try to find a man for Brian. They get a computer and the teen neighbor sets it up for them and they go to "Manhunt" at the teen's recommendation and find themselves cruising the site. They even go to the bars and are determined to find the right man for Brian. The film is loaded with good performances and laughs and it is very, very gay.
The People I've Slept With (2012)
A Sexy Romantic Comedy
"The People I've Slept With"
A Sexy Romantic Comedy
Amos Lassen
Angela (Karin Anna Cheung) is an Asian America who is proud that she is a slut. She lives from bed to bed and from man to man and she keeps a record of who she has had sex with by taking pictures of her tricks and keeping them like a baseball card collection. However this all ends when she finds out she is pregnant and the father of her child could be one of four people. Gabriel (Wilson Cruz) her gay best friend helps her to get DNA samples from the quartet of lovers. She wants to know who the father of her child is and hopefully get him to fall in love with her. We meet Angela for the first time when she is writhing with ecstasy during a secret encounter and I really felt nothing for her but as the plot progresses that changes and I realize that I am rooting for her. It is through Angela that we get the message of the film which is all about responsibility. Angela comes to terms with her past when she understands that she is not only responsible for herself but for the baby growing inside of her. With that she gains our sympathy and support. Gabriel also has a message for us. Our first time seeing him, it seems that he is just another stereotypical gay man. As Angela matures into a thinking woman, Gabriel also matures and also becomes a lovable character. Wilson Cruz gives a wonderful performance and he exudes humor. We get good looks at the men that Angela slept with. Their types vary from the well hung stalker to the mystery man (Archie Kao) and we meet Angela's father who is a fantastic character who is full of advice that he gleaned from the internet. It is the task of the characters to entertain us as the film deals with issues of freedom and love. We meet a group of young adults who attempt to belong to a society that wants them to either disappear or be marginalized. The characters really want to be "good". Cheung is Angela and Angela apologizes for nothing. She is a strong woman who does what and who she wants when she wants and on her terms. When she finds out that she is pregnant she does not blame herself because of her free living lifestyle but because she was just careless. Quentin Lee directed and Koji Steven Saki wrote this sexy comedy that is very funny, very sexy and very entertaining. Perhaps the ending was not what I wanted it to be but it is not my movie. I thoroughly enjoyed it and even though I could probably find faults but why bother?
Gaze (2010)
Looking at Gay Artistry
"Gaze"
Looking at Gay Artistry
Amos Lassen
I predicted a while ago that Matt Riddlehoover would become a force to be reckoned with in the field of gay film and he constantly seems to be proving that. Now he ventures into the world of the documentary and in his new film, "Gaze", he looks at contemporary gay artists and gives us some very thought-provoking insights and some of them are very funny. Among the artists and entertainers he interviews are Salvador Cobrero Alarcon, Rob Beyond, Adam Bouska, Juanma Carrillo, Jerome Haffner, Matthias Herrmann, Ethan James, Albo Jeavons, Jules Julien, Karim Konrad, Bruce LaBruce, Ignacio Lozano, Sandro Mantovani, J David McKenney, Maykson Ribet, Alfredo Roagui, Nick San Pedro, Stuart Sandford, Bogdan Stanga, and Austin Young, Selene Luna, Jackie Beat, Lenora Claire, Chris Sutton and Derrick Barry. The film looks at the need to create as well as the creations themselves and why we are attracted to the. Riddlehoover says that he is inspired by people and the way that they behave. He celebrates gay art. Riddlehoover's commentary about the artists is provocative and what I love about this documentary is that there is something to be learned here. I personally was surprised at how much of the art I recognized here but never knew who produced it. Now it is nice to be able to put a name with it. __________________
To a Tee (2006)
Keep Your Eyes on Matt Riddlehoover
"To a Tee"
Keep Your Eyes on Matt Riddlehoover
Amos Lassen
Last night I was privileged to watch two movies by a new and young moviemaker, Matt Riddlehoover—"To a Tee" and "Bookends". I had actually already seen on Riddlehoover film without realizing it was the same guy. In Watch out", he plays the lead, a man so in love with himself that he is victim to himself. Now I have seen two films that Riddlehoover stars in, directs and writes and I predict that he is a force to be reckoned with in gay cinema. "To a Tee" is a seriously comic film about a gay playwright who finds himself constantly attracted to the wrong kind of guys. He manages to gain the attention of a newspaper reporter (Lindsay Hancock, a quite beautiful and talented young actress) and she favors his work. He feels that he is on his way to fame but then he meets her boyfriend (Jonas Brandon) and things happen as we watch both relationships sink and fail. Riddlehoover opens the film with a monologue that shows his self-absorption and we see right away that there is something not quite right with him; he has a tragic flaw (interestingly enough he also plays the understudy of Hamlet, the character with the greatest flaw of all). The film has some interesting aspects. All of the men that Riddlehoover meets and falls for are played by Brandon and this is as if to say that the playwright is doomed relationship wise. It took me a bit to get into the film but after listening to the monologue, I thought to myself that this film will be something special. It is not our usual movie fare and it certainly made me think about some of the people I have been involved in. When the film was over, I really felt like I needed a drink as I seemed to have used my gamut of emotions while watching it. It is realistic for sure and by watching it you get to get a new look at rising talent. This is one that you do not want to miss.
Bookends (2008)
What a Birthday Party!
"Bookends"
What a Birthday Party!
Amos Lassen
I have already written about Matt Riddlehoover in another of my reviews but just let me say here that this film, "Bookends", confirms what I have already said. Riddlehoover is a new talent to watch (and he's pretty cute to look at as well). "Bookends" will remind you of one of those evenings you have had when you got together with a group of friends whom you haven't seen in a while (or you have seen them but under different circumstances). In this film eight friends in their twenties get together to celebrate a birthday and as the evening passes, we learn a lot about the participants as we watch relationships become tested, hearts breaks and passions kindled anew. This is a very, very dark comedy and the laughter that comes is in a way a release from the goings-on on the screen. What I found especially interesting is that some of the cast members also appear in another of Riddlehoover's film but here they are completely different. I found myself siding with several of them at different times in the film. The actors are so completely natural that I felt that I could have been watching this very same thing happen right in my own living room and although I have never had such a total experience, memories flooded back to me of a very similar evening. It is impossible for the viewer to not see himself in one of the roles and the film, by and large, won me over from the opening shot.
Yeti: A Love Story (2006)
Totally Bizarre Fun
"Yeti: A Love Story" Totally Bizarre Fun Amos Lassen It is so good that gay filmmakers have reached the point that that they will deal with any subject and any genre. We know this was not always true and gay film has come a long way in the last few years and we have gay slasher films, gay detective stories, gay science fiction, etc. Now we have something completely new in "Yeti: A Love Story" about a gay monster and while I would not classify this as a good film but it is completely entertaining and fun.
The storyline is about five college students who go on a camping trip that leads them to a horrible secret. When one of the guys is brutally murdered, the remaining four have no way home and they have to battle an evil cult and a very hungry gay Yeti. I know this sounds ridiculous but hold on and let me have my say.
This is one of the strangest films I have ever seen and when it was over I had to ask myself if I had really seen it. I thought perhaps I had dreamt the entire experience until I looked at my DVD player and there was the movie.
I suppose that everyone knows that Yeti is the abominable snowman that is said to live in the Himalayas somewhere around Nepal and Tibet. I do not think that many know, however, that Yeti is not a murderer who simply kills those who get in his way but a homosexual whose desire it is to penetrate people anally. (At least that this is the premise of Adam Deyoe and Eric Gosselin who wrote, produced and directed this film).
When the movie begins we see a group of people dressed in red masks and white cloaks chanting "Praise the Yeti!" as they tie a male to a tree in a suggestive position. After the banging of a gong, Yeti is brought out and enters the victim with such force that blood flows from his mouth. (I know, I know this sounds crazy).
We fast forward to the present day which in the film is 1985 and meet five college guys on their way to go camping. They stop at a gas station and witness some really strange goings on that I dare not mention for fear of spoiling your fun. After filling up, the guys go into the woods and set up camp and talk foolishly about nothing of importance. When one of the friends goes in search of firewood, he accidentally kills himself while running from animal noises and missing getting shot by what turns out to be a Yeti hunter. The four guys that are left discover that there is a cult called "Children of the Yeti" that sacrifices young males to be raped by Yeti (Yeti is something of a chicken queen). The friends call on their inner strengths and try to stop this terrible practice but
..you guessed it
.Yeti notices one of the quartet and the guy and the beast fall in love. (They have sex, share chocolate, talk about the future and no, I am not making this up). This love affair is not good for the guys in red and white because they lose their hold on Yeti if he falls in love.
I have to admit that this is a really strange film and I am not really sure what to say about it because I enjoyed it. Sure it is silly and outrageous but it is meant to be. There is so much foolishness here that it is hard to remember it all---the gas station scene is totally off the wall, crazy cults and churches, a lesbian pillow fight, truly kinky sex. I can't believe I watched this pastiche of bad taste but even worse is that I can't believe I enjoyed it.
Let's take a look at the characters. Adam, one of the guys, had some really great lines which make you groan and he fell love with Yeti which caused him to look like less the bigot and jerk that he was. Dick plays the straight man who is the geek of the group until he falls in love with a seductress from the Yeti group and they had some really kinky sex before he was to be sacrificed to the beast. The two women became lesbians after a pillow fight after having sex with the men and it just gets wilder and wilder.
There is a great deal of explicitness here and lots of penis shots and the editing is quite funny while the direction is quite good and the actors
..what can I say?....they acted. There is also a great deal of gore which was totally low budget.
I am closing this review by saying again that this is the weirdest film I have ever seen. It is a total "B" movie, the kind of movie to watch when you are really desperate and have nothing to do. If you refuse to take it seriously, you will have a great time. I hate myself for saying this but I had a ball with "Yeti".
Saving Marriage (2006)
A Must See
"Saving Marriage"
A Must See
Amos Lassen and Cinema Pride
I had heard great things about Michael Roth's documentary "Saving Marriage" so when I sat down to watch it last night I was ready for something amazing. This is one of the most powerful and well made documentaries I have ever seen and it is absolutely a must see film for everyone regardless of sexual tendency or political alignment.
When the Commonwealth of Massachusetts became the first state to recognize gay marriage, a constitutional amendment suddenly is presented to take that right away. With that the Massachusetts legislature became a battleground and activists and newcomers found themselves involved in a fierce political war. The future of American gay rights was the prize to be won and it is very, very close. The battle to save gay marriage would change the way people view same-sex relationships and the history of civil rights takes n a new meaning with this fight. The movie is a record of that. This is the movie that will change the way one values gay marriage as it shows why it is an absolute necessity to the our survival as a community.
"Saving Marriage" is moving and highly emotional and it is not just about gay marriage but about the rights of all humans. It is a detailed view of the entire gay marriage issue in Massachusetts and presents both sides of the issue. One of the main things that it does is give a very careful explanation as to the difference between marriage and civil unions. Civil unions are only band-aids for a short term solution, a kind of appeasement and not a term of equality. The message of equality and creating a better life for all is the true values of "Saving Marriage". We are taught that the government is supposed to protect citizen rights and not deny them. I would venture to say that many of us have no idea of how the issue of same-sex marriage came about and this film gives us a time-line of events showing the role of the courts and legislatures. The interviews are enlightening in the way that they explain why politicians voted "yes" or "no" on the amendment but it is even more engrossing to see the process by which an ordinary person, the man on the street, can make difference.
By seeing the first gay marriages in Massachusetts during which the amendments were proposed to shoot down and ban the practice, we are taken on a tour of emotions as both politicians and "little people" fought out the battle for equal rights in the New England legislature. Coming together for a cause such as this shows how laws can be changed, altered or done away with and that we as ordinary Americans can change lives.
I have always considered myself an activist, especially since I moved to Arkansas but after seeing "Saving Marriage", I see how little I have done. Here are people who have devoted their entire beings to bringing about change. I feel so insignificant.
This is also a film that is filled with passion and as you watch you heart fills with pride. I found myself wondering why I have not worked harder in the fight for equality. The beauty and sadness of the personal stories in the film is an extremely moving experience.
Told from a GLBT perspective, the filmmakers incorporate all points of view, showing both sides of the issue. Here we get the human face of the same-sex marriage debate. We see wedding ceremonies, we see same-sex families. We see love. Anyone who claims to be apathetic about what the word "marriage" means as opposed to "civil unions" has to see this film.
As Americans, we are all entitled to the very same rights and privileges without regard to gender, race, creed and sexual identity. This movie will make us realize how important that is. The suspense, emotion and drama in "Saving Marriage" should be a wake up call to all of us who have nothing to advance the way our community lives today. This just one beautiful film that shows us not only how we live, but how we should live. It is one film that everyone, straight, gay, black, white, Jewish, Christian, whatever owes it to himself to see.