No… I didn’t like Jeffrey.
I had all but given up on “gay cinema”.
Telling a story from within the (our) subculture… With that knowing nod… a wink… and inside jokes here and there… It’s what I’ve always disliked about the genre… It’s strikes me as self indulgent and disarmed in purpose: “Hey there – look – I just snapped my fingers, said Mary and pinched that mans butt on screen! – aren’t I naughty! Look Look! All on the big screen!” Meanwhile: story, character development, (outside of stereotypes), goes straight to hell.
It’s as if the characater’s homosexuality itself becomes a character, not simply a frame by which to define a character and situations.
It’s probably impossible to avoid some of these traps… unless you’re talking about a film like Brokeback Mountain which deals with the very real subject of gay men trapped in the closet by situations beyond their control… (or beyond their will to overcome).
Voila – suddenly you’ve got a film where “gayness” can’t sneak in and steal the spotlight… What you’re left with is a heart wrenching story about two people who love each-other so much – and how that love persists for decades in secret.
Is this the Schlindler’s List for homos? – Probably not… But it’s up there for driving a reality stake right into the forehead of our collective awareness.
I left the theater glassy eyed…. and grateful… so very grateful I don’t have to hide.
We spent the better part of the ride home dissecting the film… well.. Sniffly Chad and I did – while Kevin questioned our sanity for “liking” to go to a film where we “know” we’re going to break down and cry our butts off.
He liked Jeffrey.
I’m just sayin… not bloggin… go see this movie.
