THE CONRAD BOYS
US, 2006, 94 minutes, Colour.
Justin Lo, Booboo Stewart, Nick Bartzen, Barry Shea, Nancy Hancock.
Directed by Justin Lo.
A reviewer observed that this story and its treatment is very much like one of those afternoon television programs dealing with family and children problems.
The Conrad boys are Charlie and Ben, Chinese mother, American father, the father alcoholic and having disappeared, the concerned mother collapsing and dying. Charlie is 19, Ben 10. Charlie has a strong sense of responsibility.
Charlie works at a diner, is a reader and writer, intending to go to college. His father, now reformed, turns up and wants to bond with his children, Charlie too suspicious of him untrusting, Ben not really knowing him but gradually bonding with him.
The film also has a gay theme. Charlie encounters a young man at the diner, helps him out, invites him home, beginnings of a relationship. However, the friend is something of a conman, is involved in a car theft, pursued by the owner of the car, trying to help Charlie by attacking his father. Charlie wants him to go. The father helps the young man by pretending to be police and getting rid of his pursuer. The man invites Charlie to go to New York with him – Charlie packs, thinks about Ben and returns home.
The film was produced, written and directed by Justin Lo who plays Charlie. This is his only film. It is one of those quiet films for young gay men, some screen images of themselves, their experiences, relationships, testing relationships and consequences.
1. The title, the focus on Charlie and Ben, the mother, her collapse and death? Being left alone? The difference in age? Charlie and his care? The absent father?
2. The small town setting, homes, donors, streets, atmosphere? The musical score?
3. The contribution of Justin Lo as his writer and director, producer and actor?
4. The setting, the mother and her Asian background, hard work and the massage, her collapse? The funeral? Her husband absent? Charlie taking responsibility, Ben, young, playful, moody? At school, his friend, later attacking him? Charlie brought before the principal? Ben and his counselling?
5. Their father returning, Ben’s hostility but not knowing him, Charlie and his disappointment, not trusting him? His father wanting to enter their lives again, his abandoning the family, his drinking, reform? The legal proceedings, issues of custody? His relationship, yet being reticent with the girlfriend? His Jewish observance, explaining to Ben, at the temple and Ben upset, Jordan and his punching him? His intervention, legal threats, to save Jordan from Vincent, doing it for Charlie? His making the shield for Ben? A hopeful future?
6. Charlie, his age, studies, entry to college, a reader, working at the diner, friendship with Tori, her babysitting? The encounter with Jordan? Conversation at the diner? Jordan, his story, ambiguity, travels, writing, the gradual unfolding of his story, with Vincent, the stealing of the car, owing the money? The police? Phoning other friends in town? His staying at the hotel, his card not working? Asking to stay with Charlie, the outing with Charlie in the room, the sexual advances? Ben seeing them on the couch, his being upset? Trying to deal with his father, with Ben going to stay with his father, his reaction to Jordan punching his father, Jordan leaving, returning, inviting Charlie to go with him, packing, thinking about Ben, returning?
7. The treatment of themes of family, absentee father and drinking, returned, relationships? Children growing up? The sexuality themes, Charlie and his orientation, Jordan and the attraction? Tori and her support?
8. The final scene of the two sons playing with their father – hopeful?
