Audrey Sokoki

I was very moved by this movie. I read a review that really trashed it as being trite, unrealistic, and overly convenient in bringing things to a head as the result of a death in the family. I couldn't have disagreed more. I was the exact same age of "Beth" in 1973 and grew up in a very small town similar to the one in the movie. It felt very familiar to me. I too escaped my small confining town by going to university. For me, watching this movie was like going back in time. It captured exactly how it was back then, from the styles, the clothes, the atmosphere, and the fear of what it meant to be different, especially if you were gay and the difficult, oppressive and judgemental nature of families that was so scary to confront. The scenes of standing up to family members and finally finding acceptance brought me to tears, which doesn't often happen to me. The supposedly overly contrived road trips, funerals, and tragedies that took place were all similar to things I had experienced growing up. The actors were excellent with such developed characters and reminded me of people I have known in my own life. I think it was a beautful, honest and sensitive film that captured a place and time that could be incredibly painful yet ultimately able to offer some sort of redemption through the power of love. I highly recommend it!