Denial
- Director: Derek Hallquist; Anoosh Tertzakian
- Writer: Derek Hallquist; Anoosh Tertzakian
- Producer: Daniel DiMauro; Derek Hallquist
CGiii Comment
What an odd film this is!
It starts off...with electricity! If power consumption is your thing...then, the first 20 or so minutes will have you in raptures, the 'grid' is explained and pylons are filmed. It leaves you wondering: What the hell has this to do with LGBT cinema?
Well, things are about to change...because, the subject of the film, David Hallquist...energy enthusiast extraordinaire and father of the filmmaker, has a bit of a revelation...he's transgender!
Now, you would think that would be an end to the whole electricity thing...because, David-soon-to-be-Christine would be the focus of the story. Not so! Sadly.
Derek Hallquist, the son and filmmaker, wanders off into [other] territories he knows little about...renewable energy, climate change, a totally vacuous plane journey to Alaska...there's even some nonsensical input from a clinical psychologist...why?!? Where's the focus!?!
Back to David, a man who knows his stuff...but, when he changes his mind, after informed consideration, with regard to renewable energy, his son's feathers are somewhat ruffled! This is when - quite possibly - the maddest of mad metaphors is drawn...between renewable energy and the process of transitioning...throw in clinical castration [due to cancer] and the whole thing becomes as bamboozling as it sounds!
At one point, near the end of the film, Derek Hallquist admits to losing focus...when his mother tells him - on camera - that one of the main reasons why she married his Dad was because...wait for it...he was an amazing lover! Something he neither wanted to hear nor know! Yes, this film is certainly full of surprises...not least, the lack of focus throughout.
Denial should have been two entirely different films...the points that Christine/David makes concerning energy are truly impressive. Sadly, this film is not. Perhaps, the 'subjects' covered were too big for the filmmaker and/or he was far too close to the 'subject'...it really does come across [more] as a video diary [with camera-work to match] than a fully-fledged documentary feature. By cutting 30 or so [irrelevant] minutes, Denial could have been a far better, more focused film than it is.
Shame...some great opinions...whether they are trans*opinions or not!
Trailer...
The(ir) Blurb...
Every day, our changing climate pushes us closer to an environmental catastrophe, but for most the problem is easy to ignore. David Hallquist, a Vermont utility executive, has made it his mission to take on one of the largest contributors of this global crisis -- our electric grid. But, when his son Derek tries to tell his father’s story, the film is soon derailed by a staggering family secret, one that forces Derek and David to turn their attention toward a much more personal struggle, one that can no longer be ignored.
Cast & Characters
Mike Ahmadi as Himself;
Christine David Hallquist as Herself;
Derek Hallquist as Himself;
Jillian Hallquist as Herself;
John Thomas Hallquist as Himself;
Kiersten Hallquist as Herself;
Mary Hallquist as Herself;
Patricia Hallquist as Herself;
Tony Klein as Himself;
Patrick Leahy as Himself;
Darren Perron as Himself;
Mark Plante as Himself;
Bernie Sanders as Himself;
Phillip Schewe as Himself;
Paul Shepson as Himself