Big Eden (2001)

Average rating

(64%)

Starring:	Ayre Gross
Director:	Thomas Bezucha
Studio:	4DIGITAL MEDIA
Run time:	115 mins
Genres:	Drama
Languages:	English
Released:	(unknown)
Also available on:

This big country romance involves an emotionally stilted Manhattan artist named Henry (Ayre Gross) who returns to his Montana hometown of Big Eden when his grandfather takes ill. Drama instantly arises as Henry learns the boyhood best friend (Tim DeKay) on whom he's fostered a twenty-year-long unrequited crush, has also returned to Big Eden and is anxious to resume their friendship. Henry also comes into contact with Dexter (Eric Schweig), the Native American proprietor of a local general store. Quiet and withdrawn, Dexter finds himself attracted to Henry but expresses his interest solely through a progressively more elaborate series of home-cooked meals. It is interesting that though they are surrounded with love and support by the liberal locals, these gay men are still blocked from romantic fulfillment by their own doubts and fears. The supporting cast includes residents of Montana's Glacier Park region where the film was shot, and Academy Award winner Louise Fletcher (ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST). A soundtrack of nouveau country music helps keeps things moving, and the color-saturated photography brings life to both the stunning outdoor vistas and the impeccably rustic interior decor. BIG EDEN is the feature debut of director/writer Thomas Bezucha.

Rating of 2 stars out of 5

In the mythical Montana town of Big Eden, where all the local yokels are pro-gay, non-racist and open to suggestion, closeted New York artist Arye Gross arrives to look after his grandfather. But the accepting townsfolk guess his secret and force him to choose between a relationship with his hunky ex-school friend Tim DeKay and the American Indian general store owner Eric Schweig. Although an unbelievably saccharine cornball fantasy at times, very awkwardly scripted in some key scenes and laid on far too thick by director Thomas Bezucha, the crisp acting and well-meaning stance exerts enough charm and warmth to disguise effectively what many will find too overdone and hopelessly implausible.

Highest rated reviews

14 out of 16 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 3 stars
Heart warming gay story

Malc from , 1st February, 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

5 out of 5 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 3 stars
More fantasy than fiction - but that's okay

angelmg from london, 15th July, 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.

Read all highest rated reviews

Most recent reviews

Rated 4 stars
Customer Review

A Customer from UK, 23rd June, 2008

With the recent success of Brokeback Mountain, this beautifully shot Montana-based fairytale romance will become ever more widely seen in its DVD release. DVD is not widescreen, sadly.

Although labelled 'gay', Big Eden addresses universal themes of family, acceptance, community, death and ageing. The central tenet is of searching for home and belonging in a small rural community.

A good movie for those struggling to 'come out' to ageing parents. There are one or two scenes of powerful dialogue, but generally this is light fare.

Bucking the trend of most gay movies, Big Eden features a non-urban setting, multiracial and multigenerational cast of average lookers, no sex, with a close and diverse community centred around the local church.

The casting and production values cannot be faulted, the script is schmaltzy in places. I believe the writer was attempting to get away from the steroetypical gay pretty boy conquers LA style of movie. However I found some of the older characters in particular were either stereotypical on the one hand or lacked conviction and depth.

The action is set in an idyllic imaginary world divorced of hated and bigotry, where acceptance is normal. However, I remained ultimately unconvinced by the unrequited love between the two central characters, and the ending was so saccharine and entirely unbelievable that I re-assessed what would otherwise have been a grade 5 to a grade 4.

An interesting departure from the norm, in the way that Maurice was a departure from the usual tragic gay novel in its day, and probably this movie will enter the gay canon of touchstone movies. Watch it, but have modest expectations.

Read all recent reviews

Check out...

Subscribers who liked this DVD also liked...

Parallel Sons

Harry And Max

Brother To Brother