Vidas Ocultas

I have been spoiled by watching non-American movies. I used to say European movies, but movies from South America, some parts of Asia, and even Mexico are now as good as European movies. What movies from other countries often have that American movies almost never have is subtlety. Whether it's comedy, drama, suspense, sex, or any other genre, American movie makers assume American audiences have to be hit over the head with whatever they're watching or they won't get it.

In this movie, for example, when Son catches Dad with Girlfriend in Hotel, then when Dad and Son catch Younger Gay Son in Cabin, EVERYBODY has to overact, so that the audience will be sure to get the point that bad stuff is happening. Why, oh why does Hollywood think we're stupid? Is it because we are? Maybe. In any case, this movie's drama is far too heavy-handed for me.

In less than ten minutes, I already know everything there is to know about these three characters, and I'm willing to bet the "twists" other reviewers rave about are the same oh-so-predictable "twists" Hollywood has been delighting noise-deafened, brain-dulled audiences with since Witness for the Prosecution 60 years ago. I'd much rather have to take time and figure out for myself what's going on between characters than be hit so hard by the director and actors with such a heavy drama hammer that it leaves me reeling and nauseous.

( Mild Spoilers) Trying not to give away any important plot-lines in the movie "Rites of Passage" the one thing that impressed me most about Camp Farrady, Jason Behr, was how meek in the biblical sense of the word, and un-violent he was throughout the entire film. Even though Camp was the most hurt abused and betrayed person in it and had every reason to express his painful feeling with combativeness actions. Yet somehow refused to give into them even to the point when his life was at stake.

Growing up gay in a straight All-America family Camp's life was a living hell when as a young boy. He tried to conform when his strict father Del Farrady, Dean Stockwell, tried to "straighten" him out and later when Camp reach early adulthood his dad brutally beat up and chased out of his life Billy, Camp's best and gay friend, when he caught him and Camp embracing outside the family cabin on Christmas eve. Billy was so despondent over the forced break-up of him and Camp that it led to get himself infected with AIDS and later die of that disease.

One afternoon Camp's older brother D.J, Robert Glen Kline, who's a lawyer on a case in Washington State, was about to register at a Tacoma hotel and was told that he's been signed in already by the hotel clerk. D.J realizing that the person signed is really his father Del sees him in the lobby with a woman who he's obviously having an illicit affair with. Del embarrassed at being spotted and D.J shocked at what he saw agree to go to the family cabin in the woods to talk thing out the next day. Unknown to both of them Camp was there too not expecting them to show up.

Camp while he was looking for Billy got in touch with a prison pen-pal Frank, James Ramar, who knew about Billy who was also a pen-pal of his and from Frank he found out that Billy was gone. Frank noticed the address of the letters that Camp sent him and it was where he buried some $500,000.00 in stolen drug money and was using Camp's hurt feelings and emotions to get him to find the loot and take off with it and then leave Camp behind dead.

Frank who broke out of prison with a fellow convict Red, Jalmz Woolvett, who Camp didn't know or expect but in the end found out that he was the one who wrote him those letters that were attributed to Frank that impressed and touched Camp so much. Frank Prearranging to meet Camp at the cabin that he expected to be deserted and then take off, or so Camp thought, with him to Canada to live together as a gay couple. With the unexpected appearance of Del & D.J made things deadly and complicated but at the same time in the end brought both father and son together even though it took a night of horrors to do it.

Unusual film that treats relationships between gays and their parents and siblings with both touching sympathy as well as brutal realism. With Jason Behr really outdoing himself as the tormented but courageous Camp who despite all the abuse he takes in the movie from his father and Frank refuses to lose his humanity and in the end comes out as the most positive as well as tragic person in the film. The final scene in "Rites of Passage" when Camp reluctantly at first embraces his forgiving father and then accepts him is one of the most powerful and emotional scenes I've ever seen in a movie and it's done without a single word of dialog.

Every one in the movie has a story to tell but it's Camp who's story ties them all together and makes "Rites of Passage" the emotional experience of a film that it is.

The theme is old by now: estrangement between a gay son and his father. However, this issue is only a part of a complex web of surprises that creates a very entertaining thriller. This is a beautiful film, not just about sexuality, but about relationships. My wife and I were captivated with the story, sitting on pins and needles waiting to see how it would end. Highly recommended.

This movie was an A+ as well as a very good suspenseful thriller. I recommend thins movie to anyone ! I feel that all of the actors were perfect for the parts. The deleted scenes on the dvd filled in some of the missing parts that might have made more sense to the plot when watching the movie.

This movie draws you in then blows it providing plot complications of the "Oh come on!" variety. Someone as telegenic as Jason Behr would not need to write to a felon to find a shoulder to cry on. All he has to do is open his front door and select from the crowd waiting there to do him. Any one of them would put up with any amount of whining he needs to do.

I was in a writing class once and we were asked to write a story called "The Father." That was the only requirement. 12 out of 13 people handed in a story that ended with a father-son hug and the exchange: "I love you son..." "I love you dad." Ugh! It's a scene that facile minds find endlessly satisfying but it's very, very lame. Perhaps this movie gets filmed over and over again because emerging gay teens require their generations hottie in the role of the gay son.

I've never called my brother "Bro." Does anybody?