West Of Eden (New Zealand)

Don't let the poster of the summary fool you. Lets make it clear that this is not really a queer film. Primarily, I would like to call this a story of a very very dysfunctional family and a decent amount of time is spent exploring gay relationship between 2 farm boys. But the focus is more on the family and the sham it keeps for their image in society. I am not sure at all why this film is being promoted as a tale of two gay men who find love on a New Zealand farm in 1960s. Given that this film has featured in prominent LGBT festivals, I do feel I should review it here.

Set in 1960s, Maori city boy Billy moves away from his family and city life in remote areas to become a farm boy, primarily to escape the rumors of him being gay. In a span of short time, we are then introduced to various characters. Billy meets Eva who is having sex with her brother-in-law and being watched by head farm helper Danny. Eva is married to Frank, the owner of the huge farm and who has a spotless and pristine reputation i the society and intends to keep it this way. He choses to ignore his wife's affair with his brother, while the brother's wife drowns herself in alcohol. And then there is Tom, Frank & Eva's son who is a bit of rebel and you can see an instant connection between the 2 guys. They talk to each other a few occasions and finally find love in each other. But this doesn't last long as Danny kills Tom in outrage since he keeps getting rejected by his sister. The family despite knowing the truth can't tell the world of the real reason why Tom died. Except Frank, the other members realize that they need to stop living a lie and live life to the fullest. Billy eventually leaves the farm.

You would think that when story starts about a gay man leaving his home because of his sexuality, something very interesting is going to happen, but sadly the movie becomes all about farm and Frank's family and extended family and Billy pretty much disappears. It feels like watching some soap opera where we are forced to know details of every family member and even extended family members. The whole gay angle feels like an after thought to market and sell the film appropriately. Billy, who supposedly is the main character and through whom the story starts in flashback (what was the whole point of that, by the way!) pretty much disappears in the film. In fact, Tom has a better role as that of a teenage rebel boy and boy was he cute. Their relationship has pretty much no development. Before we even get used to them being in love, Tom is shot. I would have been ok if the film was promoted as a story of a dysfunctional family, something like 'A Family Stone'; but I feel cheated being told that this is about gay love in New Zealand in 1960s, because thats just about 5% of the film

As a soap opera-isque film, it is not bad at all. Its alright. My problem is being told about a wonderful gay love story and what you get is barely less than even what you would get to see in a short film. And my rating reflects the movie in queer context. (3/10)