Shelter

I can't believe that I've never written about the film Shelter.  The film is easily in my top 10 list (would put it at 6 or 7) and is one of those movies that I have a very hard time getting too much of.  If you want a synopsis of the film, click on the link above which does a good job at summarizing the film.

Plotwise, it is a fairly boiler plate film.  As one critic put it, "Shelter is a gay movie like other American gay movies. Boy meets boy. Boy comes out. Boys fight opposition. Opposition caves. If there's life beyond the closet, too few movies know it exists."  While this is harsh, it is also essentially true.  Most LGBT movies that I have seen end with a dramatic scene where a homophobic person is confronted and backs down.  But then again, a lot of romances and other movies end on a similar note, so this is not a conceit peculiar to the genre.

The reason I love this film is that you can really relate to the characters of Zach and Shaun.  Zach is a pretty normal guy who realizes that he has feelings for Shaun after Shaun kisses him.  In an interview, Trevor Wright (who plays Zach) said that Zach "didn’t know if he was gay or straight. He wasn’t 'born gay.' He had such a strong bond with this guy and was so intrigued by Shaun’s character that Zack just dove in for it and really wanted to explore the idea where he did find himself being truly attracted to this guy. That’s what I’m such a supporter in the community, doing the NOH8 campaigns, and talking to the fans."  I found it a very nice take on the character and the genre.  All too often, these sorts of films fall into major cliches and this movie managed to avoid a lot of those, so that was nice.

What I loved the most is that Zach really struggled with how he should handle the situation.  His sister didn't want her son (Cody) hanging out with Shaun because Shaun would be a bad influence, and this had a major effect on Zach because he always put his family before himself.  He declined an opportunity to go to art school (on a full scholarship!) to help his sister and nephew out.  He also was rather obviously trying to reconcile the fact that he was falling in love with his best friend's older brother, which could be potentially awkward.

Shaun, on the other hand, was always sure that he wanted Zach and was invariably supportive of Zach and his endeavors.  Unbeknownst to Zach, Shaun sent his portfolio to the art school again (and he was accepted again).  He also cared deeply for Cody and did what he could to help him out.  I also liked that he was not above using a verbal 2x4 on Zach when necessary.  That is always a good thing.

It's really hard to explain more because so much of my love for the movie stems from my personal experiences which I have already written about extensively in various places.  Overall, the movie is one with a big, thumping heart and a whole lot of charm.  If you haven't seen it, give it a shot.  If you like gay romances, I can practically guarantee that you'll love Shelter.