Nights in the Gardens of Spain

I'm genuinely glad there are niche movies like Kawa for the people who need them, gay men from profoundly gay-hostile, tradition- and family-worshiping cultures. But all this movie does for me is make me extremely grateful that my own background is northern European, where the individual is more important than the family, the object of child-rearing is independence from the parents, not bondage to them forever, and men are not expected to stomp, thump their chests, and grunt in unison at birthday parties.

This movie is even more alien to me than a heterosexual romance. I found the melodrama unbearably tedious and the behavior of every person in the movie preposterous. I'm glad it's here for the men who can identify with it and be encouraged by it, but I'm not one of them.

This film as excellent as it is, ultimately disappoints. First of all, the location settings are exquisite - I have never seen such incredible photography. I thought the film was set in Austrailia, but then learned it is actually New Zealand. The story, based on a book, is almost passe in this day and age when everyone it seems is out. In fact I had a hard time swallowing the pain and suffering experienced by the characters when the truth became known. My buddy and I shook our heads and were grateful we never had to experience what the lead characters in this film have to go through. The cast is gorgeous - everyone of them - and the interiors are all first class - these people are at the pinnacle of the social structure - and that was nice. Yet, such apparent sophistication did not cross over to the idea one among them was different. And that annoyed me. Of course there is the problem of cultural conflict which occurs in every society and at every level and here it is no different.

...Woman's Point of View...and involving much of a woman's sensitivity.

And yet the movie we're given is from a story written by a man, Witi Ihimaera. A man well known for an acclaimed, later literary work (and film), "The Whale Rider" (world premiere at the 2002, Toronto International Film Festival). Still, this is an author who seems to possess much of the "sensitivity" referred to above. In truth, female touches abound, which should be no surprise, inasmuch as this film work was steered by Director Katie Wolfe, aided by the screenplay writing of Kate McDermott. So, in essence, this is almost as much the story of our Gay lead, Kawa's ....Wife....his Mother....his Daughter, as it is of the man, himself.

BUT, woman's point of view or not, the Pain....the Angst....revealed to us in Calvin Tuteao's characterization of Kawa is REAL. For at its heart this is a story of a man from whom much is, and has been, expected by his Maori societal group....and family. We see a Gay man who has, in fact, led a heterosexual married life, with children. Nevertheless, what we are shown, beneath the cover of all that, is a man experiencing a severe case of "Closetophobia" (fear of Coming Out).....and a near disabling Fear of Disapproval.

Yes, there is a male lover (on the side)....and visits to a bathhouse. BUT for those anticipating finding more than mere hints of Gay romance and Gay love scenes in this work, I must reluctantly say such hopes will be dashed. The emphasis seems to be, instead, upon heterosexual closeness....family closeness. And fear of loss of the latter.

Oh, there is a "final stand" taken against family...and society, and it is effectively conveyed to we viewers. But I will reveal nothing more about this film's closing storyline. I can say, however, that production values were unexpectedly high from this film goer's point of view. And gorgeous New Zealand scenery doesn't hurt at all (rating credit was given for all this).

I have yet to decide whether to keep this video in my Gay Film Library.

****

Kawa (played by Calvin Tuteao) makes this Lifetime TV drama work. But this film is much better than a Lifetime TV drama (the topic would be a bit risqué for their Hallmark cards audience). It also has the New Zealand and Maori elements (albeit westernized and top of the social pyramid Maoris) doing touristy routines (dances with tongues out etc..)

Still you come away with a view of this cultural world that I knew next to nothing about. Be forewarned this movie presents it like PC garbage for the most part but still will call it Maori 101.

Kawa is a classic gay man trapped by cultural forces into acting out a heterosexual existence. For most gay men this would be next to impossible but it exists. In the film Kawa in his 40s? can take it no more and comes out--the movie is about this and the cultural specific hell it causes. I wonder how much of this "Maori" homophobia arrived with the Christian missionaries most of it I would wager. That and imported Victorian social norms of the time.

Anyway this movie is very realistic if full of PCisms and Calvin Tutueao is a very sympathetic handsome and believable character..He is a very easy character to like.

Decent watch.

RECOMMEND

I have a hard time understanding how this is from a woman's point of view and how the topic isn't believable in 2012. It is a misconception by most gay people in urban areas that the conflict over sexuality has dissipated in the large majority of the world. There is still legislation being proposed to put people to death in Africa. Having said that Kawa is a very thoughtful film about the consequences of overbearing parental/cultural expectations placed on a boy so that he tries to morph himself into something that he can never be. The cinematography is beautiful, the acting is very good. If your not jaded and have an ounce of empathy this is a beautiful film about how social pressure can deform a child trying to live up to the expectations of being the man his family/church/government expects him to be.