Eban and Charley

Dealing with sensitive subjects in films is never easy. The film makers here take a muted, almost ambivalent stand on the subject, which show sis the questionable relationship between a 29 year old man with a 15 year old boy. As a film, it is a pretty straight forward execution without much drama trying to show as 'matter of fact' events and what/how happens. I guess it is left to the audience to make their own morality decisions. (Although looking at the film's dvd poster, which features only the younger male, rather than the duo which should have been the case for a film whose title has names of two protagonists)

Eban returns to his hometown Christmas from Seattle. He is a bit vague about the reasons he has come (which we later find out). Killing time growing through local shops, he sees a young 15 year old handsome boy Charley and rather insistently strikes up a friendship on the pretense of swapping lessons about guitar and being lonely etc. You can tell that Eban likes him. Charley, a lonely teenager now lives with his father after his mother's untimely death, so he enjoys the attention and care shown to him by Eban. The two start to hang out, walk on beach, cycle around; till one night finally Charley makes a move and they cuddle and kiss. Interestingly neither of them really understands or is mature enough to understand the consequences. One night over a sleepover when Charley's father comes to get him, this is when Eban's father consults him. We are told that Eban had an affair with a young student of his and was hence let go. His father reminds him that he is repeating the same mistake and if he doesn't change his pedophilic behavior, he will call the police himself. Eban tries to keep his distance, but Charley reminds him of the promises he made. The film ends with them both eloping together out of the town.

As I mentioned before, here the audience is left to read, whether this is forbidden but true love or pederastic predation. (One mild, semi-clothed interlude aside, there’s no onscreen sexual activity). The makers here neither sentimentalize the story or demonize it. As an audience, honestly I was in two minds about the whole situation. Yes, due to age difference it is wring from every perspective. Charlye has likely been love deprived, so as a 15 year old he knows he wants to be with Eban (also likely because of the fact that recently two of his closest friend eloped to Florida to be with each other). Meanwhile, we can't be so sure of Eban's motives. He has a history of liking young boys, but whether he truly loves them or uses them, we don't know. We do see that Eban never makes a physical move, but still the intentions are very questionable. When Eban tries to end relationship, it is Cheryl who forces them back together. Sure, but Eban is supposed to be the mature one. Shot in video and indie, home camera style, the acting by both legs is quite decent, but one's liking of this taboo subject will be extremely subjective. The film is also a bit slow, so you gotta be patient. (5/10)