The Falls: Testament of Love

My heart ached throughout most of this movie. I loved the first "The Falls" and was sad that it had to end the way it did, not knowing how Chris and RJ's lives would pan out. Well now we know! Perhaps for me it is nice to see a gay relationship movie about fairly run of the mill characters. They aren't buff, don't have fabulous jobs and don't hang out at nude beaches or bars 24/7. in fact it seems both the boys lives have come to be in somewhat of a rut. But what they do have is an extraordinary desire to be happy with themselves, even when the odds are stacked against them. For this reason the film has a lot of soul. I felt like a warm blanket had been wrapped around me when these two finally meet up again. Chris's self inflicted pain is palpable and we are never too sure how in fact their lives may continue. As friends? As enemies? As lovers? For some unfortunate reason the audio in parts, is terrible, which is a shame given the high standard of everything else about the movie. I also found the Anniversary party scene to be unnecessary, and unlikely. I felt it added a selfishness to the main characters that tainted my opinion slightly. In the end however, I fell overwhelming in love, again, with the unmistakable bond between Chris and RJ. Warning, some full frontal nudity. (Oh go on, go see it just for that!).

I've created this IMDb account solely to write a review on this movie and the prequel as I think they haven't been given enough credit. First of all, no, this is not a disappointing sequel, in fact it's a great one and Jon Garcia did a marvelous job in making it realistic and not the cliché kind of gay-movie continuation. The first movie reflects so many experiences and thoughts that I've been going through throughout my life and I think most of other religious people's lives, even though we may not be Mormon. And that was what made it really close to heart and made it an almost realistic drama that had me attached to the characters as if they're myself.

Testament of Love touched me way more than the first one did though, as the movie narrates basically all of my life expectations and vague planning that I have been developing since I found out about myself. I am a religious Muslim man and have been struggling with my sexuality for a long time now and I haven't came out to anyone. Due to my strong faith in God, I have been relieving myself by saying that this is one of the strongest challenges God can give to His servants and that I'd get the best of rewards in the hereafter for going through this on the right path until I die. And In Islam, God doesn't specifically condemn the feelings of homosexuality and He'd only give worldly challenges that the servant can bear.

Because of that, this movie speaks to me like no other movie, or even, no other person has before. The main characters resonate a strong emotion of love, guilt, sadness, frustration and hope without needing lengthy or even detailed dialogue. And the fact that the RJ and Chris had gone on separate "lifestyles" that are common choices to Religious gay men, just screams to me about the (frustrating) realities of my life expectations as a Religious gay man.

Moreover, I love the grayness of the plot and characters of this movie such as RJ's strong faith in God even though he's not a practicing Mormon anymore and the complex scenes where the gay- relationship, family and religious issues are being tackled. The characters in this movie are individuals, and even though they are tied to certain societal and religious views, they have their own individual thoughts. And that's what I really love. It makes the movie really realistic.

Yes, some may say the movie is quite too long and a bit draggy, but I don't mind that as those are what makes this movie life like and not just another gay-problem-suicide or gay-coming out-happy/unhappy movie. And I don't mind the length as I really want to know more about their lives, even if they're fictional.

Thus, I applaud the director, producers and actors for producing such a realistic, close to heart (and much more cinematic) movie and I really hope that you guys can make another sequel, perhaps for a proper closure to myself and the other viewers, and to relieve my already bad movie-depression that I'm having. By the way, I regretted not watching this movie and the prequel much much earlier.

It isn't often a sequel bests an original. I loved the original film, The Falls, and said it left me wanting more. Well, this is more in a BIG, BIG way, but don't watch it until you've seen the first one! It focuses more on Chris where the first film focused on RJ, which sets the stage well for what is to come. I am not Mormon, so I can only imagine the degree to which gay Mormons suffer trying to be faithful to themselves and their religion despite their religion not being faithful to them. This film deals with that in a very straightforward way, and we can feel for not just what the boys go through but how tortured their families become as well when trying to deal with a gay child, sibling or mate. This is a powerful film, and leaves the door wide open for yet a 3rd installment if they so choose...this is one viewer who would stand in a very long line to see it!

2nd installment of this movie is even better. As i reviewed in my first installment and another top review here pointed out this movie relates so much to religiously persecuted yet still religious communities. The most closest one that come is Islam. And as a closeted muslim man this one touched heart.

I felt every emotion that portrayed. I felt every body move they made. I felt their longing. I felt their pain. i imagined my lover's touch while watching them.

Also the soundtracks were gold. The one played during their forbidden love making (Once I believed) is clearly gonna play nonstop in my ears for next week. I even can see i am marrying to this soundtrack.

Again this all may seem so cringe to average people and i dont blame. But this brings up so much emotions. And unless you have been to this position theres no way one can understand this pain no matter how much considerate and sympathetic they are.

i applaud the directors and main cast to be so realistic and such a good performance. And i demand a 4th installment.

I saw this part of The Falls as the last one. And I consider it the best The Falls. For sensitive problems and their inspired exploration, for the clash between faith and love, for the relation RJ - Paul, for the end. Indeed, you recognize the recipe, so familiar and easy used . You reminds the story from the first part and the evolution of events becomes not so surprising. But The Falls: Testament of Love proposes more than familiar romance in gay frame.

I saw it as correct story about connection between a young man and his church who, indeed, is more than only a church but axis of his entire life, the fight against sexual impulses and the effort to build an ordinary life, exactly the expected by community one.

Nice acting, fair story and just clever - useful exploration of details about mormons life , rules, way to assume delicate problems , interesting for a guy like me, Greek - Orthodox believer, so far by life of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -day Saints.

So, correct.