RITES OF PASSAGE

US, 1999 minutes, Colour.
Dean Stockwell, Jason Behr, James Remar, Robert Glenn Keith, Jaimz Woolvett.
Directed by Victor Salva.

This is an interesting film for television written and directed by Victor Salva who has had a mixed career, including some prison time for his sexual involvement with a 12-year-old boy.. This happened in the 1980s. Salva renewed his screen career with a range of films including Powder, and the thriller Jeepers Creepers.

This is a film about father-son relationships, the father, unexpectedly played by Dean Stockwell, is a martinet with his sons, expecting a great deal from his successful lawyer son but angry with his son with a homosexual orientation, Jason Behr, assaulting his partner and the son leaving home. The father is involved in a relationship which his lawyer son discovers and together they go to their holiday hut only to find the younger brother present.

The audience has already seen two escaped criminals murdering some hunters and taking their clothes. The leader is played by James Remar in a very effective performance.

When the criminals ask the family for help, the leader insinuates himself into the group, their having something to eat, some rivalry in arm wrestling but then there is quite an unexpected twist and the film becomes an interesting melodrama. And, at the end, there is another twist.

1. A family drama? A crime drama? Father-son tensions? Homosexual orientation themes?

2. The work of the director, his personal background, interest in themes, his films?

3. The title, the two sons, their growing up, as adults, the interactions with their father, mother? The situation at the cabin, Frank and his discussion about rites of passage, for each of the two sons?

4. The campers, Frank and his coming upon them, the confrontation, the shooting, taking their clothes? The escape from prison? The relationship between the two men? The revelation about Frank, his quest to recover his money before the mill was destroyed?

5. DJ, his work, at the hotel, the room occupied, seeing his father, with the lawyer, his father's embarrassment, attempted explanations?

6. Father and son going to the hut, the background, the summer holidays there, the hut built by his father, the father a hunter? Arriving, finding Campbell present, each surprised? The background of Campbell, his gay orientation, his relationship with Billy, the flashback to his father brutalising Billy, Campbell's absence from the family? The tension in his relationship with his father, with his older brother the memories of their past?

7. The three men, the father wanting them to have a weekend together? The arrival of Frank and Red posing as his son? Coming in, the phone call for the tow truck? Hungry, the cigar? Frank and the conversation, the challenge to arm wrestling, psychological taunting of the father, his giving in despite his sons pleas not to? His being defeated?

8. Frank, his psychology, talk about father-son relationships, rivalry, rites of passage? The father ordering them out?

9. The two brothers, drinking together, the reconciliation, informing about Billy's death? The issue of AIDS? Billy's disappearance, Campbell's grief? Their telling his father and his father with a more compassionate reaction?

10. Campbell leaving in the night, the twist in the plot, his being in league with Frank? The story of Frank, prison, robbing drug dealers, hiding the money in the mill, the need to get to the money? Campbell and his searching for Billy, the fact that Frank had known him, writing the letters, pouring out his soul, the sympathy and the letters, his agreeing to help Frank and get the
money?

11. The shock for father and son, their being bound? Red, the letters, his declaration of love, the possibility of leaving in the rowing boat?

12. The patrol, the father going out, memories of the past, reassurance?

13. Locking the house, the guns, the shooting? The confrontations, DJ shooting in the air, people off guard, Red being killed? Campbell taking Frank, putting him in the boat, rowing out, shooting a hole in the boat, Frank not being able to swim?

14. The father being shot, calling the police and ambulance? Campbell arrested? In jail, the visit from his brother, from his father, the embrace and his getting out of prison in six months? The future for everyone? As a result of this experience?