Tuesday, April 29, 2014
"The Wise Kids": coming of age (and out) as a graduating senior in a southern baptist church
“The Wise Kids” (2012, directed by Stephen Cone) puts
together the processes of evangelical religion (specifically, here, in a youth
group in a Southern Baptist Church near Savannah, GA) and coming of age,
particularly for gay men. The result is gentler
than what one might expect; but the title tells you that these are pretty
level-headed kids. The film could be
compared with the musical (but ironically titled) “Southern Baptist Sissies”
reviewed here Feb. 19. There’s a play
that I could compare the film, popular in many church youth groups, “Wise Guys”
(review, drama blog, May 15, 2011, so far never made into a commercial film as
far as I know, and that seems surprising).
The film opens as the high schoolers (mostly graduating
seniors) are preparing a play about the Crucifixion. There is some clumsiness
with the props, but soon we get to know some of the characters, most of all
aspiring film student Tim (Tyler Ross) who wants to go to the New School in New
York City.
There’s an odd reprise of the Crucifixion, which may be Tim’s
dream, where the actor playing Christ bleeds, perhaps from elaborate
makeup. The film does show how
hand-straps could be used to simulate the nails.
The film is slow-paced and considerate. The youth minister is trying to date one of
the less attractive young women in the congregation, and finds he is not up to
physical intimacy and will come to terms with his own sexuality. But Tim (does
he belong to the “Timo Club”) barrels along, with a lot of momentum, getting
everyone to rejoice with him when he gets into film school. There is a scene on the beach where there is
a gentle confrontation with his younger brother over sexuality (the brother
doesn’t want him photographing him). But
later there is a dance (I’m not sure where) with some dirty dancing. The film ends with the kids home for
Christmas from their first year of college.
The official site (Wolfe) is here.
The film is available on Netflix instant. The script talks about Savannah, but imdb
says the film was shot largely in Charleston, SC (not far away).
Wikipedia attribution link for Savannah overview. I made one
visit, in March 1990. Savannah (Mercer
House) was also the site of Clint Eastwood’s 1997 film “Midnight in the Garden
of Good and Evil” (WB) with John Cusack and Kevin Spacey, a mystery with a gay
subplot. Remember the line, “New York is boring”. Cusack is a visiting NY journalist who works
on a murder of a closeted gay man he has befriended.
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