Saturday, April 26, 2014
Down sides
Today's movie was about the negative side of coming out. The opposite of the optimistic and happy film I saw yesterday.
This is a very well made film with a good story and it is a bummer. It dashes all the feel good hopes that other coming out films tend to depict.
Things do not go very well when the highly closeted working man David decides to come out on a true confessions television show.
He asks all his friends, his family and his best friend to watch. What was he thinking?
Actually, I think that he is not surprised by the results but they are disappointing to say the least. No one thinks that it is OK. No one.
I suppose that many gay men experience just this kind of reaction.
They are not as well armed as this young man but he is disarmed nonetheless. Nothing will ever be the same for him. At least that is how it feels to me.
On the other hand, what is the price of living a lie? Listening to homophobic bullshit all day long from one's dad or realizing that his best friend cannot handle it.
I suppose I could watch all the positive films but it is good to have a dose of reality every once in a while. Or, an alternative view of what happens.
Sometimes there is rejection and heartbreak and a total starting over. But isn't that what we are after anyway? There is no end to the closeted life except to end it without reservations or expectations.
This is a very courageous film and it shows how one's acceptance of one's self is not always welcome in this world. Or the world we have been living in.
The forgiving starts with me and then, if possible those around me for even doing the unforgivable. Not easy. But very freeing.
This is a 4 out of Netflix5.
Labels: coming out, gay films
