This is your typical indie coming-of-age tale about a teenager, though it’s clearly working with a very tiny budget. Set within a migrant family living in Southern California’s Coachella Valley, the movie digs into how fragile old-school traditions and expectations can be. We follow a teenage son as he goes through the process of coming out and struggles to find acceptance while dealing with homophobia, domestic abuse, and a messy love triangle that involves his own sister. Goyo is seventeen and just about to graduate from high school. Since he’s been a bit more feminine since he was a little kid, he’s always had to deal with emotional and physical transition from his dad, Ramon, who is obsessed with him being "a man." The only real love he gets is from a lady next door who actually respects him for who he is. The family lives in a Mexican community where everyone works on a grape farm, but things get shaken up when a new guy named Lucio arrives. Lucio basically seduces Goyo ...
Wonderful was the word that came out of my mouth when I was thirty minutes into the movie. It did not turn as marvelous as I expected when it started but nonetheless it was still a very gripping movie on a very burning topic relevant for all of us.Robbie and Trey are a couple living together and are planning their commitment ceremony. Chris Boyd, a pastor's son movies into their neighborhood. He preaches against homosexuality and despises the couple to the extent of even threatening them of God's punishment. Chris Boyd is son of a very popular pastor. Trey's mother really loves the couple and is close to them. One night when Trey is walking their dog, he is attacked by someone and is hospitalized. The case starts by Detective Fisher trying to figure out what's going on. Robbie tells her that he suspects Chris Boyd might be involved in this but after initial investigations they are told that the whole night Chris was with his parents. Struggling with life, Trey finally dies and hence begin the search and quest for what really happened and by whom and why. All suspicions point to Chris Boyd but later what is revealed is shocking. Chris turns out to be a closet gay who himself is trying to fight his desires for other man. His father pastor finds out about this and he is the one who had killed Trey. The climax and the way Robbie and Trey's mother get him to accept the crime is commendable.
The film belongs to a very high class (good production, wonderful acting, powerful story). I wish the movie has been seen by a lot of people but its high time people realize that they cannot get away with gay bashing that easily. Every person has a right to live the way they want to.
Highly recommended for good everything. (7.5/10)
Comments
After all the crap I had been watching lately, I'm glad I gave a shot at this one.
I very often come and visit your blog and your reviews help me choose what to watch next. Thanks for that.
GC from France (remember Soldier's Girl ?!)