Big Eden (2001)

Heart warming gay story

Malc [Highly rated reviewer] , 01/02/2005

How refreshing to see a gay movie dealing with older people (in their 30s! - no 'cute totty' on display here) and which is so decidedly upbeat. New York artist Henry (Ayre Gross) goes home to the Montana mountains to look after his ailing grandfather, and in the process learns a great deal about himself and his failure to find a loving relationship. There's a certain amount of wish-fulfilment here which takes a little swallowing; for example, there's not a single homophobe in this small town (how likely is that outside of cosmoplitan New York?) and in fact the locals do their very best to find our hero a man! But the scriptwriter/director makes a valuable point when he says that he wanted to explore a situation where homophobia isn't the problem, to show that gay people are just as likely as straights to screw things up for themselves! There's a problem with the character of Dean (the object of our hero's affections); the author seems to want to suggest that Dean is straight but would like to sleep with Henry if only he felt physically capable of it. Instead he comes across as a closet case who is resistant to coming out because of his kids.

But put your cynicism aside, revel in the beautiful locations and nicely-judged performances (not least Louise Fletcher - Oscar Winner in 1975 for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) and don't be surprised if a little tear trickles down your cheek by the time the film reaches its climax...

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Gave me a warm glow

A customer from Glasgow, Scotland , 17/03/2005

Quite simply one of the best gay romance films I've seen (and I've watched a lot). Everything about this movie works. If you're looking for a sweet love story with good performances, terrific scenery and a sprinkling of magic, then this is the one. It's just a pity Big Eden doesn't really exist...not yet.

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An Absolute Must

A customer from Salisbury, England , 01/02/2005

A gay film that holds its head up high with mainstream movies. This film takes a stereotypical heartland of America community and turns all your perceptions upside-down. It's a wonderful, wonderful romance. The scenery is almost worth watching for alone, and every single performance will melt your heart. Gay or straight, this is just feel-good at its best. Do NOT miss this movie.

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More fantasy than fiction - but that's okay

angelmg from london , 15/07/2004

Henry Hart, a successful but unfulfilled artist living in New York is drawn back to his smalltown rural Montana roots after his grandfather suffers a stroke. But on returning to Big Eden, the sleepy town of his childhood, Henry is forced to face up to a past he’s been running from for the last twenty years – namely, his unrequited love for Dean, his best friend from school. But while contending with his past, Henry also finds that his return begins to stir up the town itself, only BigEden’s inhabitants seem far more interested in Henry’s future…

Big Eden is one of those sweet films, so sweet in fact, it nearly necessitated a trip to the dentist, but if you can buy into director Thomas Bezucha’s main conceit, that this is a town so devoid of the stereotypical bigotry and prejudice that defines so much of gay themed cinema, then it does reward. Despite a setting closer to fantasy than fiction, the film is underpinned by good performances, an engaging script (which avoids most of the clichés that populate gay themed films) and great cinematography of the rural Montana backdrop. Above all though, BigEden is best seen as a bold affirmation of how things could or maybe even should be – a place where “acceptance” and “community” are not just words, and in that regard, it has a refreshing universal appeal. Social realism it definitely ain’t, but if you want a cuddly feel good flick, then Big Eden won’t disappoint.

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More fantasy than fiction - but that's okay

angelmg from london , 15/07/2004

Henry Hart, a successful but unfulfilled artist living in New York is drawn back to his smalltown rural Montana roots after his grandfather suffers a stroke. But on returning to Big Eden, the sleepy town of his childhood, Henry is forced to face up to a past he’s been running from for the last twenty years – namely, his unrequited love for Dean, his best friend from school. But while contending with his past, Henry also finds that his return begins to stir up the town itself, only BigEden’s inhabitants seem far more interested in Henry’s future…

Big Eden is one of those sweet films, so sweet in fact, it nearly necessitated a trip to the dentist, but if you can buy into director Thomas Bezucha’s main conceit, that this is a town so devoid of the stereotypical bigotry and prejudice that defines so much of gay themed cinema, then it does reward. Despite a setting closer to fantasy than fiction, the film is underpinned by good performances, an engaging script (which avoids most of the clichés that populate gay themed films) and great cinematography of the rural Montana backdrop. Above all though, BigEden is best seen as a bold affirmation of how things could or maybe even should be – a place where “acceptance” and “community” are not just words, and in that regard, it has a refreshing universal appeal. Social realism it definitely ain’t, but if you want a cuddly feel good flick, then Big Eden won’t disappoint.

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Heart warming gay story

Malc [Highly rated reviewer] , 01/02/2005

How refreshing to see a gay movie dealing with older people (in their 30s! - no 'cute totty' on display here) and which is so decidedly upbeat. New York artist Henry (Ayre Gross) goes home to the Montana mountains to look after his ailing grandfather, and in the process learns a great deal about himself and his failure to find a loving relationship. There's a certain amount of wish-fulfilment here which takes a little swallowing; for example, there's not a single homophobe in this small town (how likely is that outside of cosmoplitan New York?) and in fact the locals do their very best to find our hero a man! But the scriptwriter/director makes a valuable point when he says that he wanted to explore a situation where homophobia isn't the problem, to show that gay people are just as likely as straights to screw things up for themselves! There's a problem with the character of Dean (the object of our hero's affections); the author seems to want to suggest that Dean is straight but would like to sleep with Henry if only he felt physically capable of it. Instead he comes across as a closet case who is resistant to coming out because of his kids.

But put your cynicism aside, revel in the beautiful locations and nicely-judged performances (not least Louise Fletcher - Oscar Winner in 1975 for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) and don't be surprised if a little tear trickles down your cheek by the time the film reaches its climax...

Read all highest rated reviews