Big Eden (2000)

Well now, what is striking about this drama is that the community deep in rural Montana appear to have no nay-sayers amongst them when it comes to the local gay folks in their community. There is no sign of any of the usual religious reticence amongst the community as Arye Gross ("Henry") returns from his successful New York existence to care for his ailing grandfather. Once there he must re-address relationships with "Dean" (Tim DeKay), his high-school crush and with "Pike" (Erik Schweig) who owns the local general store and who has been looking after his grandad. Talk about the only gay in the village - this town of about a dozen folks appears to have about a 25% rate - which only adds to the rather daftness of it all. The acting is truly wooden - except, perhaps for Nan Martin as the busybody, but well meaning "Widow Thayer" - and although the film relies not a jot on any sense of "beauty" to relay the romance, nor does it relay any sense of innovation or novelty with the characters. Did they get together, did he just go home - not sure I was really bothered.