I would like to share this with you: this Canadian (Quebec) film has just been released in France. That's the title: C.R.A.Z.Y. I saw it this afternoon at the theatre, and I cannot get it out of my mind. NO, I don't think it will be the mind-blowing (or life-blowing, and heart-blowing) experience that BBM has been, but still, I think this film comes a close second in my list of favourite pics ever. Have any of you seen it?
I love that it spans more or less the same time period in time as BBM: 1960-1980. But whereas Ennis and Jack turn 20 in the early 60's and start their love story then, 1960 is the date of birth of Zach, the central character. And whereas the early 1980's strike the end of E&J's love story, 1980 is Zach's 20th birthday, and the time when he finally accepts his homosexuality, and accepts to suffer the consequences of his outing (his father can't accept it), to live according to who he is.
Whereas Ennis could never dream of being open about his love for Jack, we learn in the end that it took Zach's dad 10 years, but by 1990, Zach could visit his father again, and with his partner.
A lot of things from BBM can be found in CRAZY: the main character is confronted to both his (male) schoolmates' and brothers' homophobia, along with his father's, AND to his own internalized homophobia, like Ennis. The mother, like Mary Twist, is loving and accepting of her son. The girlfriend, like Alma, is a collateral victim of that multifarious homophobia.
But although it was certainly not meant, I see a little message of hope in the comparison between the 2 films (CRAZY being autobiographical, it seems): while Jack and Ennis's love was doomed, given their upbringing/background/period in time, Zach has a better chance, being 20 younger than them; although he suffers hell, he can still come out to himself and then to the world. 20 years. We can hope that those who were born in 1990 will have an easier time of it.
Would anyone like to add anything in the comparison between the 2 films, if you have seen this one? Or any thoughts?