Geron

Bruce LaBruce's 'Gerontophilia' exists on one level as a bold and thoughtful exposé of the shocking treatment of geriatrics in some care homes, whereby they pass their days under heavy sedation so as to make them less of a problem to handle. Though well-scripted and acted, this theme is hardly novel, having been seen in many earlier films, including Henry Koster's delightful mixture of the tragic and comic in 'Mr Belvedere Rings The Bell'. What makes 'Gerontophilia' unique is its other level - an unusual account of the developing relationship between the octogenarian Mr Peabody (Walter Borden in a complex and completely convincing performance) and a youthful student, Lake, who decides to intervene and improve Peabody's quality of life. This decision is not, however, completely altruistic since Lake is one of that minority of young males who are turned on sexually by old men. It is to LaBruce's great credit that he treats this controversial subject with just the right amount of restraint, avoiding the lurid, but not being afraid to call a spade a spade. There are no actual lovemaking scenes in bed, but sufficient moments where Lake's attraction to old flesh is made manifest, at the film's ending through the medium of humour, earlier in a poignant scene where Lake sketches Peabody with, as one might say, no holds barred. The film of course has its flaws: Pier-Gabriel Lajoie as Lake is just too impossibly good-looking, though this is to some extent offset by the charisma of his performance and his unerring sense of fun. Also there's the suggestion, inferred rather than stated, that his curious sexual preferences stem from his relationship with his drunken mother, but this comes over as a trite rather than illuminating idea. These, however, are small matters. This movie is a charming and unpredictable insight into a sub-world which is not just French-Canadian but universal, and will be a welcome addition to the programmes of those art cinemas brave enough to show it.

The subject matter may be intimidating to some (a love story between a young man with a fetish for geriatrics, and an 83 year-old man) but this is a heartwarming treat. The dialogue is a little clunky at times but otherwise this is one of the finest road movies, of sorts, I have seen for many's the year. Bruce la Bruce, the fearless doyen of Queer Cinema, veers towards the mainstream in this and doesn't miss a beat. The performances are great, particularly Walter Borden, and the soundtrack is glorious.

All in all a fantastic film for all the family, once your family is not upset by the regular sight of young boy on old man action, that is.

This film was so much better than I expected! I saw this at the SF Gay Film Festival tonight. Just hearing the premise, I couldn't imagine it being very realistic but it turned out to be completely believable to me. The young actor was so sweet and his affection/attraction to the older man seemed quite sincere. I could see Mr. Peabody through his eyes and see the beauty and fascination he felt, particularly through the drawings he made and the huge poster of Gandhi on his bedroom wall.

I was impressed by the convincing portrait of teenage rebellion portrayed by the young girl who is inspired by female revolutionaries throughout history and by the young man's ridiculous jealousy and drug/alcohol use while at the same time showing the reality of the older man's life. Mr. Peabody was excellent in his portrayal of an older man who is at first resigned to life in the nursing home and then perks up when he realizes this young man is interested in him. He shows how lively he can be once he is encouraged to be his full self.

This film has changed the way I think of older men in nursing homes....

I think it helps a lot to be an old man to fully appreciate "Gerontophilia" in all its affective and humane dimension. In a condition as old age, in which we become invisible (something Mr. Peabody expresses in one scene), if invisibility does have its advantages at times, in others it becomes very dramatic because our dilemmas seem to have no space in the young people's perception and, as the evaluation given to this motion picture demonstrates, they only perceive half of its implications. A lovely little movie, maybe quite necessary, in which a young Canadian man who works in a geriatric clinic discovers his attraction to very old men and that it is not only a sexual attraction, but that he is capable of feeling love for them. A rarity in audiovisual production from all over the world and a highly welcome one.

There are precious few good gay films. It's just a fact. Usually the few good ones are foreign so this is disappointing because it was Canadian but that is almost American so there you go. Dialogue is stilted and script is formulaic. Actors try but plod along with material inferior that they attempt to embroider with a lifted brow here and there or a sad eye. The male star is pretty so he's a diversion but after the first swimming pool scene, you're ready to switch to reruns of 'Dark Shadows' TV show. Is it really believable that a very handsome young gay man would be smitten and erotically motivated by sagging flesh, wrinkles, fallen posteriors and pot bellies? I know it might exist (just like chubby chasers) but I find it difficult to swallow. It is very nice to fantasize about by someone like myself who am 65 and counting now and would like to justify still going to the gym, but...