Unlike most other coming of age films we have seen from major film distributers, this is the story of Simon and his journey with his sexuality, The secret and trauma that those of us who are not heterosexual struggle with.
"Coming Out" is not something that most people have to worry about, but for those of us who do, fear of loss of family, friends, bullying, rejection are some of the reasons why its a so hard to do. This isolation and rejection has and continues to impact on the LGBTIQ young and old and can often mean homelessness, mental health problems and disconnection from communities they have grown up in.
Films like this, aimed squarely at a mainstream audience, matter and make a difference. It shows the struggle that is faced by the LGBTIQ to be able to have the same opportunities in relationships that is available to nearly everyone else wityhhout having to put their hand up to be tagged as being different. It calls out homophobia, intolerance, bullying, segregation and says that this is not okay. It does this in ways that are quickly identifiable by young people.
This is a film that is ability a young guy in his late teens and last year of school, and him falling in love and identifying as gay, so casting a film and choosing to be part of the cast would once have been a career killer, but no longer and this ensemble is part of that shift. Nick Robison, who plays Simon, certainly making his big break (17 films) in this one. Its easy to identify with the emotional rollercoaster he is riding, because he brings this to his character. He is supported by a talented team, who bring their characters too life and help to bring about a film that gives us a happy and hopeful ending.
Its not a film that is supposed to cover the many complex issues that many LGBTIQ young people face, its not glossing them over, but is presenting a more hopeful outcome if this group had a community that was more open and accepting.
Its not the first film that has covered these issues either, this years Oscars featured a film from Italy "Call me by Your Name" as a winner for Screen Writer. But its is one of the first films from a major studio aimed directly at the middle American audience.
How did I feel while watching it? Well the tears made it hard to see the screen, the struggles, the conversations - some have had, some I have never had - not my choice but how others deal with it and their own personal feelings. I see it as a film that is going to make a huge difference for young people and will hopefully mean we get to a time when coming out won't have to done at all. Growing up I found it hard to see myself because the gay characters that were presented on TV or film were stereo typed to such a degree that often that made them the subjects of jokes or bullying, if you cant see yourself in the community around you it makes it harder to find where you belong. Nor does sexuality mean that your clothing style has to include gold lame hot pants, or that you can't drive a truck, be a builder or whatever. So the film and its normalising of this coming of age, to me was a hope filled shift in telling our story, so all get the chance to see our love stories on the screen and enjoy them in the same way we have others.
Its funny, its sad, its brave and its about Love and whats not to love about a great love story.
If you haven't caught it yet at the cinema - you have a couple of days to go. You won't be disappointed.
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