Fair Haven
- Director: Kerstin Karlhuber
- Writer: Jack Bryant
- Producer: Denise Dorado; Tom Malloy
CGiii Comment
Talk about people getting off lightly...! The father, that pastor, those gay-bashers...none held to account!
This is a 'sweet' little film that needed rage...from the central character(s), from the writer, from the director. It's all too safe...trying desperately not to upset the apple-cart too much!
Well...it needed it....it needed a more organic approach...hit those institutions, that antiquated traditionalism where it hurts!
Anything to do with conversion therapy needs tackling with hard-handed, stout-hearted assurance, the argument against needs to be more compelling than that threadbare religious argument that is so vacuously and venomously spouted...here, the young man is told/taught the error of his ways...there's not enough conflict to convince the audience that he has been to Hell and back! He kinda takes it all in his stride...he's a musician, he could have gone all Mahler, Rachmaninov...!
It's a decently produced film...everyone done their jobs admirably. But...the impression it leaves is more akin to tinkling with the ivories rather than bashing out a sweat-inducing, blood-boiling concerto!
Trailer...
Fair Haven Teaser from Fair Haven on Vimeo.
The(ir) Blurb...
A young man returns to his family farm, after a long stay in ex-gay conversion therapy, and is torn between the expectations of his emotionally distant father, and the memories of a past, loving relationship he has tried to bury.
Cast & Characters
Tom Wopat as Richard Grant;
Michael Grant as James Grant;
Gregory Harrison as Doctor Gallagher;
Jennifer Taylor as Ruby;
Josh Green as Charlie Green;
Lily Anne Harrison as Suzy Thomas;
Tom Malloy as Reverend Thomas;
Lisa Varga as Patricia Thomas;
Denise Dorado as Helena;
Michael Cuddire as Sebastian St. John