Review:
film:
"Big Eden"(Director Thomas Bezucha , USA, 2002, 35mm, 117mins)
By John Frame for Queer Radio 3rd April 2002
in promotion of the Brisbane Powerhouse Queer Film and Video Festival.
(screening: Friday 12th April 2002 at 8:30pm).
Big Eden:
Successful gay New York artist Henry Hart returns to his home-town of Big Eden, Montana, to care for his ailing grandfather.
Henry takes a good deal of personal baggage home with him, including his smouldering obsession for a high school friend and the internalised homophobia that has kept him single well into his 30’s.
We are encouraged to develop affection and empathy for several characters as Henry settles back into country life. We also challenge our assumption that country towns are, by nature, irretrievably homophobic.
Probably the most refreshingly realistic character is the former high school best friend, Dean, who is willing to do almost anything to have continuance of their youthful emotional relationship.
Big Eden has an unhurried pace, in tune with our expectation of country life and is a genuinely rewarding experience.
If only Laramie, Wyoming had been as honest and accepting as the fictional town of Big Eden, Montana...