Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Trail blazing
The first feature film about healthy and normal gay relationships didn't come around until, well, the 70s.
A Very Natural Thing (1974) sand coincides with my own coming out as a gay man.
There is a lot packed in this film. There is its didactic side, an argument for gay rights. Then the very sexy first relationships of a gay man first coming out.
Finally, the fully realized love between this man and the one who finally comes along. The one.
We all have one if we are willing to wait for him. See? I am also a romantic. But it did happen to me.
There are no crosses to bear in this film. There is no fight going on.
There is some attention to the argument for equal rights but also equal opportunities for open loving relationships.
Not the same thing at all.
If someone is looking for a "I was there" kind of experience, this film will provide that feeling.
It is still as fresh as the day it was born and it is amazing to me to see how much it nails the growth of a gay sensibility.
It was great seeing it again from the present perspective. Not a single forced or false note.
The film is originally on 16mm sound equipment and is spotty as far as quality is concerned.
I have read that the original prints were lost and had to be revived from old clips and worn out film.
This passes by as a concern as the movie gets going.
