Big
Eden (2001)
Like a gay "Northern Exposure" (which could be pretty
gay itself at times), "Big Eden" creates a lush, organic
and beautiful world where homosexuality is simply a
normal fact of life. Sure, the film gets big laughs
from it's burly local (seemingly straight) males in
plaid lumberjack shirts helping a gay man woo his secret
love, but these are witty and sweetly romantic moments
that more often than not simply put a big wide grin
on our face. They are funny because, in a perfect world,
they are true. Hence the Big Eden of the title. While
this is the name of the town in the film, it also implies
a vast, lush wonderland where there is no sin, no shame
and all love is accepted.
Ayre Gross, probably still best known for being in
the early episodes of "Ellen," plays Henry Hart, a New
York artist who seems very successful in every way except
the romance department. It's important that Henry be
from New York, the antithesis of "naturalist" Eden in
many ways. Gross really plays Henry well, allowing us
to empathize and like him and therefore nearly overlook
his faults.
Henry moves back to his Northwestern Mountain home,
when his only surviving relative, his grandfather, has
a stroke. He soon finds that his high school sweetheart,
a guy of course, has recently returned home as a divorced
father. This sets up much wonderful romantic entanglement
when local Native America Pike, a very quiet man, also
falls for Henry.
But Henry has real emotional problems. He not only
is searching for (in reality, demanding) the perfect
lover, his idealized high school chum, but also closing
himself to truly connect to people - for friendship
and for romance. It's important to note to here that
Henry has real trouble saying "I'm gay" to his grandfather
even though it is obvious that the man already knows.
This is Henry's true problem: He cannot open himself
up to anyone enough to truly be loved and accepted for
who he is. And in return, he cannot truly accept others
for who they are, and see their worth, either.
Although the exposition is a bit shaky, the audience
finds it easy to realize that Henry and his high school
chum have always been close but probably never acted
upon their mutual attraction. When the moment finally
does arrive, and Henry's love interest cannot follow
through, an argument ensues where his would-be lover
calls him selfish. At the screening I attended, people
guffawed at that line because they felt it was the chum
who was at fault but not Henry. Later, we realize that
it is indeed Henry who is to blame for closing himself
up to real love and friendship when his "storybook"
romance does not occur. Henry must find out what he
wants for himself and learn to allow others to be themselves,
not idealized versions he has in his head.
"Big Eden" is really a wonderful film, a Harlequin
romance for gay men. This is quite possibly the most
romantic gay film I've seen since "Maurice" several
years back. It's unflinching concept, that all of Henry's
heterosexual friends, his family and neighbors accept
him and the other men in the film who want to be with
him as nothing less than ordinary, is remarkable. There
is not one moment in the film where homosexuality is
ever questioned or considered as different. I found
that both amusing and wonderful - and as refreshing
as the openness of the mountains seen consistently in
the backdrop of the film.
Note:
Also with Louise Fletcher, George Coe, Nan Martin
(of TV's "Drew Carrey Show"), and O'Neal Compton.
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Report
Card
Script:
A
Acting: A
Cinematography\Lighting: A+
Special Effects\Make Up: A+
Music: A-
Final
Grade: A+
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