This is a good short movie, and one that touches close to home. When I was about 20 I became involved with an 18 year old who was brought up Catholic. We never identified as a couple but were physically and emotionally intimate for 7 years. I thought he'd change his beliefs after all that time. He didn't. Ironically enough, he wants/wanted to be a priest. Also ironic, the institution he believes in so much denied him the opportunity to realize his dream of becoming a priest because he was gay, among other things. I know the feeling of betrayal Caesar felt. You feel like it totally negated your entire relationship. Like it meant nothing. You're angry at the person for believing such things. You're angry at the religion for teaching it. And you're angry at yourself for thinking you could change the person. Then you're just kind of left hanging, torn between that feeling of betrayal and the care you still feel for the other person. Ultimately, I realized I'm the one who is most blessed to be free of the pain and hurt caused by the battle between what one believes and what one feels. I would not wish Joe's conflict on anyone. I'm lucky things ended after 7 years, it could have easily become 35. We're still close as friends, but we'll never be as intimate like we used to be.
