DREAM BOY
US, 2008, 90 minutes, Colour.
Stephan Bender, Max Roeg, Thomas Jay Ryan, Diana Scarward, Ricki Lee Jones, Randy Wayne, Owen Beckman.
Directed by James Bolton.
Based on an autobiographical novel by James Glimsley, this is a story of sexual awakening and dependence. Glimsley grew up in the American south as did the director, James Bolton, and their memories of growing up as homosexual boys are a mixture of secrecy and feeling repressed.
This film opens with a 15 year old coming to a small Louisiana town with his oppressive father and his timid mother. It emerges that the family has secrets. However, the first part of the film reflects the adolescent wondering as the introverted boy is attracted to the farm boy next door and they begin a secret relationship.
Half way through the film, there are some dramatic changes and the film builds up to a climax that is both violent as well as literally haunting.
Stephan Bender (the young Clark Kent in Superman Returns) and Max Roeg (son of director Nicolas Roeg and Theresa Russell) are the two boys who do quite well in creating characters who are uncertain about themselves and struggle with their feelings and their families.
1.The impact of the film? Adolescence? Love? Sexual orientation? Violence?
2.The Louisiana settings, the houses, the town, school? The woods, the lakes? Authentic atmosphere? Musical score? Atmospheric themes for particular moments?
3.The title? Roy as Nathan’s dream? Nathan as Roy’s dream? The ending? Nathan as a ghost?
4.The issue of homosexuality, adolescent boys, crushes, sexuality, sensuality, relationships? Secrecy?
5.The family moving to the town, Nathan looking through the car window? Introspective? His father saying he lived in his head? At home, the tension with his father? His mother unable to communicate well with him? His going to school, Roy driving the bus? Watching Roy through the window, Roy doing his chores? His being invited to come closer? Meeting the friends at school? Mealtime, Nathan being drawn into the group? Helping Roy with his homework, Roy coming to the room, their going to the graveyard, the touch? The physical communication? In the bus, sexuality, sensuality? Going for the swim, Nathan unable to swim? Willing to learn? In the car with Roy, Roy’s reaction to the encounter, blaming Nathan, Nathan and his declaration that he had been with no-one else? Nathan’s return home, his relationship with his father, his father wanting him to watch television with him? It emerging that the father had assaulted his son? Roy setting up the rope in the room, sleeping on the floor, going to the cemetery? Roy finding him, offering him hospitality in the barn? Talking with Roy’s mother? The plan for going camping, the trip, in the tents, gathering the wood, Roy telling the ghost stories? Walking to the plantation, the atmosphere of ghosts, Nathan and his premonition, hearing his father speak? The encounter with Roy, Randy finding them, Randy’s assault, killing Nathan? His rising, watching his funeral, his going to meet Roy? The ghostly future?
6.Roy, on the farm, his relationship with his parents, doing the chores, driving the school bus, older than Nathan? His girlfriend and their encounters? His friendship with Randy and Burke? The swimming? Diving from the rope? Help with his homework, the English essay, helping with the algebra? The attraction, in the graveyard, the touch, the encounters, Roy and his needs? The bus, the outings, his mistrust of Nathan? Finding him in the graveyard, taking him to the barn? The reconciliation? Going on the camping trip, in the tent, in the house, his surrendering himself to Nathan? Being caught? Nathan’s death? His going to the service, his grief? Seeing Nathan again?
7.Nathan’s father, his job, sales, drinking, going to church, his relationship with his wife, her tension, wariness? His wanting to relate to Nathan? The secret of the past, his pursuit of his son? His humiliation? His wife leaving him? The sketch of his wife, her tension, scared for her son, trying to protect him, demanding that the father come downstairs? Her finally leaving?
8.Randy and Burke, the swimming, at school, drinking, camping? The discovery of Roy and Nathan, Randy and his anger, homophobia, the sexual assault, killing Nathan?
9.The religious background, the chapel, Roy’s family, the prayer groups? Nathan and his family going to the services, to the dinners, to prayer meetings? The final service for Nathan?
10.How credible the characters, needs, relationships? Adolescent boys? The lack of experience? Nathan as victim, of his father, of circumstances, of fate?
