BOY ERASED
US, 2018, 114 minutes, Colour.
Lucas Hedges, Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, Joel Edgerton, Xavier Dolan, Troye Sivan, Jesse La Tourette, Britton Sear
Directed by Joel Edgerton.
Audiences who choose to see Boy Erased will know that it is about conversion therapy, methods of therapy to convert gay candidates to a heterosexual life and orientation. It is based on the book of the same title written by Garrard Conley who is the centre of this film, a character called Jared Eamons. He is played with quite some sympathy and strength by Lucas Hedges (Oscar-nominated for Manchester by the Sea, Frances Mc Dormand’s son in Three Billboards).
An interesting note is that this was released at much the same time as another conversion therapy film, focused on a teenaged girl, The Miseducation of Cameron Post. There are similarities between the two films in the therapy, methods used, qualifications (or not) of those in charge of the program. Both films are worth seeing.
There is also an interesting Australian note. This very American story has been adapted for the screen by actor, Joel Edgerton, who directs as well and takes on the role of the therapist. And, while the setting is Arkansas, Jared’s parents are played by Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe (appearing together at last!). Both give interesting and nuanced performances.
So, response to this story will depend on audience attitudes towards conversion therapy, approval or disapproval of its methods, the questioning of the qualifications (as happens in this film) of those who set themselves up to manage such programs. The antipathy towards conversion therapy will be heightened during the scenes of therapy, even the strict and stern entry into the centre, a bit like entering prison and giving up everything to be retrieved on release, filling out forms indicating defects in the family, preparing a diary of past encounters, hard role-plays with a therapist, while mouthing sympathetic and “honest� words of feedback, comes across as bullying.
There are two flashbacks where Jared has encountered a student at college and where he has been attracted to a visiting artist.
The program is not entirely prison-like, the young people not living in generally but going each evening to a local hotel with the parent or guardian, thus giving Jared the possibility of discussing everything with his mother, time to think about his father, an earnest man who runs a car dealership but is also the local preacher. The conversion centre also uses religious language, sometimes focusing on God, but more frequently focusing on behaviour and sin.
The religious background is strongly evangelical, the literal interpretation of God’s word as a norm for all behaviour. This raises difficulties for the father, disapproval of his son’s orientation, calling in religious elders to advise him, sending off his son to therapy. The presentation of the church and this version of Christianity would certainly alienate many audiences, especially compassionate Christian audiences.
Another strength of the film is in presenting glimpses of other young men and women doing the program, especially a rather hefty boy who is humiliated, literally belted by the family to express their disapproval and urge his conversion. Another boy salutes as a greeting because he does not want to touch anyone. And yet another advises Jared to fake the participation in the course.
Ultimately, Jared will confront the therapist in some highly dramatic moments.
The film ends four years later, Jared a writer, in contact with his mother, hoping that his father would read what he had published, visiting his father and talking very frankly to him. Audiences will leave the cinema with a touch of hope because of the final information about Jared, dismay at the information about the therapist, and a genial photo of the actual Garrard and his parents.
1. The title, the tone?
2. The themes, sexual orientation, conversion therapy, motives and methods of the programs, the qualifications? Audience reviews? The film’s stance? The credibility of the exploration of conversion therapy?
3. The American setting, Arkansas, the city, ordinary America? Homes, the conversion therapy centres? Towns, College? New York? The musical score?
4. The religious background, the specifically Christian background, evangelical churches, reliance on the Bible and the word of God and morality? (And the alienating of audiences from this kind of church, interpretation of the Bible, concept of God and sin?)
5. The screenplay, the complexity of the times, intercutting of the different times?
6. Lucas Hedges as Jared? His age, the home movies of him as a little boy, charm and happiness? Teenager, serious, his experiences, his relationship with his parents? The consciousness of his orientation? His perspectives? The fact that the character was based on the author of the book, the autobiographical perspectives?
7. The situation, his parents, his father as a preacher, his father and the car dealership and his wanting his son to inherit it? His being sent to the centre, the entry, the strictness? The manner of the personnel, the staff, the assistants, their being part of the program? The group, having been sent by family, young men and young women?
8. The initial experience, the information, filling out forms, the family chart, initials indicating aberrations in the family? Jared asking his mother, information about the family, the possible homosexual uncle? His mother and her reaction?
9. His having to keep the diary, the listing of encounters? The flashbacks to his experience of Henry, friendly, the running, talk, sharing the bunks, the sexual approach, the rape? Henry’s apology, weeping? Jared talking about the issue with his father, his father calling in the elders, the discussions, his father saying he always sought advice, to send Jared to the program?
10. The diary, the encounter with Xavier, the art exhibition, the attraction, discussions, going to his apartment, lying on the bed, willing?
11. Victor Sykes, character, impact, appearance, his methods, those working with him? His motives, qualifications, God language, emphasis on sin? His pressure on the group, the tearing of the dollar and talking about mending, his images of healing from homosexuality as an aberration?
12. Cameron, big, uncertain, not born a footballer but developing as a footballer and the use of this image for his orientation? His presence, support of Jared? The role-play, his being humiliated, the arrival of his family, his being beaten? His suicide? The impact on Jared?
13. Sykes, self-assured, his treatment of those assisting him, dictatorial, his smooth words, the scene of him smoking outside the toilet? The buildup to the confrontation with Jared, Jared defying him, the to and fro, Jared running, hiding in the toilet, phoning his mother, his mother’s arrival, looking through the glass, calling out, Sykes opening the door, Jared leaving, his mother saying shame to Sykes?
14. The range of others had to be centre, the blonde haired boy, his pretending, urging Jared to fake the behaviour and then get out? The teenager afraid of touch and saluting, and the moment of touching Jared? The young woman, being asked to confess, talking about her attractions and her behaviour? The glimpse of her later, not wanting Jared support, head down?
15. The tough speaker on the staff, the confrontation with Jared in the toilet?
16. Jared, his relationship with his father, seeing his father preaching, the meetings at the house with the elders? Jared and his return home, in the church, his father’s sermon pointedly at his son?
17. The passing of four years, Jared moving to New York, writing his stories, publication? Phoning his mother, asking whether father had read the articles?
18. Jared and his talk with his father, the frankness, his father and the genuine confession about his failures, but still not being able to accept his son despite loving him? Jared and his plain talking, telling his father the truth about how hard he was towards him? The invitation to celebrate Christmas with him?
19. The final credits, the photos of the actual family – and the resemblances to the actors? Reconciliation? Jared and his writing, his partner? The postscript about Victor Sykes – and his retirement and living with his partner?
