FAIR HAVEN
US, 2016, 90 minutes, Colour.
Michael Grant, Tom Wopat, Gregory Harrison, Josh Green, Lily Ann Harrison, Tom Malloy.
Directed by Kirsten Karlhuber.
Fair Haven is a small budget feature film focusing on a young adult, his dealing with his sexual orientation in a small Vermont town, his being sent to a camp for conversion therapy, its temporary effect, his return, his personal dilemmas with his father, his future career.
Michael Grant, a concert pianist who chose the pieces that he plays in the film, principally Chopin, is 19-year-old James Grant. Tom work that is his stern father. Gregory Harrison plays the cheerful and earnest conductor of the conversion therapy camp, seen in a number of flashbacks, talks to the group of young men, straightforward philosophy and morality, personal talks with James.
There is family drama because the father, rather stern and remote, has invested all his money in the apple orchard and expects James to take over. Ultimately, he has to reconsider, and there is some final reconciliation with his son.
Josh Green plays Charlie, James’s friend from the past, whom Jay initially rejects but meets him again and the relationship develops. There are attempt on the part of James’s father and the local pastor that James go out with the pastors very earnest, attractive question daughter.
Comparisons can be made with the later Boy Erased which treated the same subjects.
- The title, Vermont, the Apple Orchard, the farm and crops, the town, the Church, socials?
- The sexual orientation theme? Conversion therapy? Effects? Consequences?
- The journey of James Grant, aged 19, his relationship with his father, work on the Apple Orchard, sexual orientation, the months spent at the conversion therapy camp, the interactions with the director, the effect on him, intentions, return home, desire to be a concert pianist, the financial situation, his father spending the money on the Orchard? Going to church, the severe sermon? Meeting Susie, attractive, the going out together? Delivering the apples, the encounter with Josh, memories of the past, his panic attack, aggression? Later meeting Josh, rekindling the relationship, fostering it, the sexual encounter in the barn? The talks with his father, finance, future?
- The father, the absent mother, relationship with his son, Stern, working in the Orchard, the apples, financial difficulties, using his son’s college money? His attitude towards his son and sexual orientation? The tensions in the house? The relationship with Josh? A final decision, finance, the farewell to his son, some kind of reconciliation?
- Josh, the past relationship, at work, the encounter with James, the panic attack, the physical violence, the further meetings, fostering the relationship?
- The pastor, stern sermon, his daughter, encouraging the 2 to go out, Susie, personality, bright, Christian perspective?
- The small budget film, taking up the issues of sexual orientation and conversion therapy?
