Michael Grant and Josh Green in Fair Haven
Gay conversion therapy, sometimes known as reparative therapy, is a type of psychology that aims to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. The Human Rights Campaign says that many right wing religious groups promote the concept that an individuals can change their sexual orientation or gender identity, either through prayer or other religious efforts.
The film "Fair Haven," which plays Saturday, April 30 at 5 p.m. at The Colony Theater as part of the MiFo LGBT Film Festival follows James (Michael Grant, who starred in "The Secret Life of the American Teenager"), a talented concert pianist who has his sights set on Boston's Berklee College of Music. He's just graduated from high school and it is the summer of his discontent.
He's also just returned from a Christian conversion camp where the therapist (a wonderfully convincing Gregory Harrison) lectures on the "sins" of same sex attraction in a classroom where a wooden cross, affixed to the wall, is hard to miss. "You can't be in love with someone of the same sex," Doctor Gallagher lectures to a room full of teens, both male and female. Of course, James challenges the therapist at every turn, yet the lecturing continues: "Sin makes us feel good while we're committing it, but that doesn't mean it's good for us." Harrison's character is obviously convincing himself as well as his students and the script's between the lines sends clues that maybe Doctor Gallagher had been himself converted at one time in his life.
In his office, Gallagher asks James how many times he has thought about men since he's been at the conversion camp and, of course, how many times he's thought about girls. James smiles and says he's been fantasizing about girls much more. Doctor Gallagher smiles. Voila! The therapy has worked.
James returns to the small town in Vermont where his father, Richard (Tom Wopat of "Dukes of Hazzard" fame) has an apple orchard, Fair Haven, that provides the town's grocery stores with their apples. His wife has died and Richard has turned into a depressed, lonely widower, who spends his nights in front of the television, which ends up with him passed out next to a bottle of Jim Beam.
Meanwhile, James is battling his own depression, the loss of his mother and confusion over his sexual identity.
Left: Gregory Harrison; Right: Tom Wopat
Director Kerstin Karlhuber has assembled a fantastic cast, which brings a relatability to the film. A wonderful Josh Green ("Alvin and the Chipmunks," "Road Trip') plays the object of James' affection. James and Charlie are your regular "off-to-college" boys next door. Wopat as the tough as nails Dad who says "I don't understand what you do, but I do want to accept you," brings an honest believability to his pain.
The script, which Karlhuber began writing in college, was inspired by the Vermont landscape where she grew up. She and film classmate Jack Bryant worked on the script together, but Bryant gets the screenplay credit.
The film is never preachy about its conversion issue, but instead focuses on the human struggle about trying to be someone other than your authentic self. Grant's portrayal of the sulky teen never falls into victimization and balanced by Green's tenderness, the chemistry between the two will create audience empathy regardless of sexual orientation.
Your heart will bleed for James as he tries to create sparks with Suzy, the town's preacher's daughter who wears a promise ring. "What is that ring?" James asks. "I've promised to be a virgin until I'm married."
The feature has high production value and cinematography by another one of Karlhuber's film school buddies, Jason Beasley, captures the essence of the farmhouse and infuses the Vermont landscape into the soul of the film.
"Fair Haven" has heart and is a movie for the masses, not just a gay audience. It is reflective of today's society where acceptance of same sex love still has a long way to go.
Director Kerstin Karlhuber
Filmmakers and Talent will be in attendance for a Q&A after the film. The Colony Theater, 1040 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach. See the complete guide of MiFo at https://issuu.com/mifolgbtfilmfestival/docs/mifo_pg_online_version_issu
