★ 7 / 10
More of a tribute than a docu
mollytinkers
There's only one IMDb review as I write this. I must admit I'm perplexed, because surely there's been enough viewers to prompt some kind of written book…
There's only one IMDb review as I write this. I must admit I'm perplexed, because surely there's been enough viewers to prompt some kind of written book report, for lack of better phrasing, for this film.I agree with the lone reviewer who pontificates that the director's grandmother makes for far more interesting material than the filmmaker himself. She is nothing short of a powerhouse. Period. She really is.So, let's give kudos to the filmmaker. He had a basically normal, privileged upbringing. He excelled by getting a formidable education and used it to cement himself as a fixture in high-brow homosexual experiences. I applaud him and anyone who isn't afraid to face and force the public to face existential circumstances and experiences of daily gay life.Don't watch it for the filmmaker; watch it for his grandmother.
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★ 8 / 10
A modern grandson and an even more modern grandmother
suicidea
A grandson talks to and about his grandmother who has affected his life deeply, from his early childhood to his adult life. There are scenes of dialogue…
A grandson talks to and about his grandmother who has affected his life deeply, from his early childhood to his adult life. There are scenes of dialogue, monologue, narration, and the film goes back and forth in time to tell their intersecting stories, semi-documentary style.
The grandmother is obviously the more interesting character here (and has a much more fascinating story), having lived a longer, fuller and much more colorful life. The grandson is a moviemaker now, using his grandma both as a subject and as a means to talk about his coming out as gay, both to his family and also to himself.
If only the director / moviemaker hadn't pushed the homosexuality point so forcefully, reminding the audience every two minutes that he's gay, this would have been a much better film. As it is, it's still an interesting watch, the life of a woman who has lived so fully and continues to live just as fully even in her golden years is a fascinating experience. The grandson's story pales a bit in comparison, but it isn't that boring: his relationship with his father was also interesting. However, when we inevitably and subconsciously compare the two subjects of this movie, the obvious conclusion is that: one has lived through hard times, had relationships, overcome many obstacles at work and in her personal life, made something of herself despite terrible odds, all the time leading a very full and interesting life, whereas the other one... well, is gay. It's kind of a sad and worrying sign of our times where our character, our personality, who we are and what we've done in our life, even our achievements are sadly determined solely by our sexuality, and who we sleep with overpowers everything else about us.
As a viewer you can't help but think "We get it, you're gay, please move on to something else..." at least a few times. Still, the movie works and I'd recommend it as a fresh, interesting watch.
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80%
AUDIENCE
7.3/10
241
