Our Son

I am liking the fact that more and more gay films are exploring fresh subjects. No more about coming out or being gay, but stories around normal lives of gay men. Now. Some of these aspects could be interesting while others could fall flat, but when you have actor like Billy Porter associated with a project, my expectations were quite high. This film tackles the downfall of a marriage and eventual divorce between two dads, who end up fighting for the custody of their only son, in time to realize their own mistakes.

Nicky and Gabriel have been together for 13 years with their 8-year-old son, Owen and somehow they have neatly divided their parental duties. While Nicky spends his days at the office being the primary breadwinner but often missing key moments of Owen’s childhood; Gabriel is a doting stay at home Papa who reads his son bedtime stories, drops him to school and enjoys cooking his every meal. Gabriel recently has met another person and he tells Nicky who is surprised but this other guy dumps Gabriel. But what come out in the open in Gabriel's dissatisfaction from the marriage and he eventually asks for a divorce. Of course this creates a weird rift between them. The sticking point becomes custody of Owen. Should he stay with Nicky, who can provide for him but whose job, flexible as it is, remains demanding enough to keep him away from home for much of the day? Or should he go with Gabriel, who has no job to speak of, yet whose commitment to being a stay-at-home dad has so shaped Owen’s life so far? The proceedings eventually go to court but thankfully the mean realize what would be the right thing to do for their son's sake.

This is an interesting film because not only the film forces a happily married gay couple to question about what kind of fathers and what kind of gay men they want to be but it also tries to address gendered expectations, especially around an increasingly family-focused LGBTQ community. So while, we do find logic and humanity in both their versions of why they should be the primary carer fo rehire son, it is a little difficult to root for either of them because we are never really told what their primary understanding to raise the kid was in the first place. We sort of know where the film will lead to and what to expect, but what I really liked was the sensitivity and realism of it all with which it was handled and shown. I wish a lilt more was shown to us from the kids point of view. Of course he is upset, but the film never addresses the impact of this separation on the little kid. The supporting cast all does a good job including Nikki's friends, the two lawyers or even the family visit when it happens. The two actors do a fantastic job of their roles and look and play the part to the T and the climax is something that could only have been the solution. Showing a finale where Gabriel ha moved on with another new man, the film is telling us a story not just about an embittered divorce but a larger one about how emotional endings can also be new beginnings. And this feeling is something that I can personally vouch for. (7.5/10)