Big Eden

I have seen this film 2 times before and was itching to watch it for the 3rd time for a few reasons. One I wanted to see it with my boyfriend and secondly so that I can review it on my blog because this one happens to be my al time favorite gay film in all the years I have been following gay cinema. People will say that Brokeback Mountain beats all films but I think either you haven't seen this film or you are not as romantic as I am. 

Henry is a successful artist in Manhattan. When his grandfather has a heart attack, he comes back to his hometown 'Big Eden' where everyone has missed him. The community in the city is a very close knit community and it is ok be gay. No one judges you for that. Al characters are very 'normal', they dont involve in gay bashing, people dont go to gay clubs and everyone just loves everyone. Grace is one such elder woman who has high regards to Henry's grandfather and teaches in school. She knows Henry is gay and keeps telling him to tell his grandfather Sam about it but he is not sure about it. When Henry comes to Big Eden he finds out that his school friend Dean is also back in town who is now separated from his wife and has 2 kids. Henry had huge crush on Dean and had to go through years of therapy to get over him. Its been 18 years since these close friends saw each other. They both are very happy to see each other and clearly Henry still has some feelings for him. Then there is this store in the town run by Pike. There are some 7 lazy people who are always sitting there. When Grace first introduces Pike to Henry, we se that Pike gets very uncomfortable. We dont understand why. But slowly things start to unfold. Pike is assigned the task to deliver home cooked food by some lady to Henry's house because they can't cook. But he never stays back for dinner even after constant requests by both Henry and Sam. When he realizes that they are getting tired of that food, he learns to cook and cooks an amazing meal every day for them without they realizing where it is coming from. After a few events, we realize that actually Pike is deeply in love with Henry and all he wants is for things to be nice for Henry. Henry slowly realizes this and like Pike too but is struggling with his passion for Dean which is slowly fizzing out. Both Henry and Pike are shy in professing their liking for each other. Things change when grandfather Sam dies. Henry is depressed that he was never able to come clean to his grandfather and that now there is no reason he should stay back there. But clearly every single member of the town loves him and wants him to stay back. Henry indirectly professes his liking to Pike but also tells him that he is leaving back to NY. It breaks Pike'e heart but in the end Henry realizes that he has been running away from the happiness and people that he was always wanted to something that he doesn't even like. The ending of the movie is beautiful. 

There are so many things that are notable about the movie. There are no stereotypical gay characters. It could be the story of any person and in this case the character just happens to be gay. Pike's reaction for his love is something we have not witnessed before. He loves Henry so much that just the thought of being close to him or talk to him scares him to death. You realize this beauty when you watch the film. The friendship between Dean and Henry is also beautiful. Dean wants to do and be everything that Henry wants him to be (even including kissing Henry) just so that he can be friends with him as they used to be. He considers him as family. The interactions betwen the supporting cast, the family atmosphere, the love, the caring, elderly people helping Pike to cook to impress Henry, old lady trying to set up Henry with first girl and then boy after she realizes he is gay. Even watching the 3rd time, the scene between Henry and grandpa when he asks whether he wants to tell him something still breaks my heart and I cry every time when he says that I didn't raise you to be ashamed of anything. I am getting choked even while writing this. Each character was so normal, so not gay but so lovable and someone you would want to be. Everyone wishes to be loved the way people in the community loved each other. And the best part is they never ever mention the word gay in the film. Its all subdued and understood. 

I think I need to stop now. I can go on and on about this one. If you have not seen this one yet, do it NOW. Make it your first priority. EXTRAORDINARY for a gay film. (9.5/10)