Sometimes films with noble intentions try to strike a balance when dealing with controversial subjects, in order to draw more people than they demonize. Yet sometimes this can backfire and make a film that is muddled, like the recent “Save Me.”
“Save Me” is about a rebellious gay man, Mark (Chad Allen), whose brother decides to put him in a Christian retreat center, Genesis House, after a recent drug, drinking and sex binge. Genesis House is run by married couple Gayle (Judith Light) and Ted (Stephen Lang), and they set out to help gay men turn away from their affliction by way of prayer, Scripture reading, fellowship and one-on-one counseling. After Gayle’s gay son was rejected by her and committed suicide, Gayle and Ted found a passion for helping gay men because they believe they are lost. Mark meets a longtime member of the group, Scott (Robert Gant) and eventually the two fall for each other. A crisis of faith, identity and relationships follow and when all is said and done, things most definitely change.
The film is respectful and measured in its portrayal of all the characters. It portrays both the Christian couple and the two gay men as good people, characters are not oversimplified and, for the most part, the movie avoids stereotypes. Viewers can understand the basis for each person’s beliefs and conclusions even if they disagree with their choices. Conceptually, it is a story that could alienate both the Christian and gay communities, but because of the dramatic balance, the possible polarization is defused. The acting is reasonably good all around and that elevates the story more than anything. The film surprisingly has some visually impressive cinematography, especially for such a low-budget film. Some very good sequences, reminiscent of documentary interviews, reveal more about the characters; editing in these sequences is inventive and creative.
Yet, “Save Me” has some problems. The second half of the film feels too rushed. Key changes in characters and plot points are not given the proper development and some parts just seem hollow. Also, some of the music is not only repetitive, but feels like it is from a bad made-for-television movie. That music, especially, removes viewers from the narrative and completely butchers the emotions certain scenes are trying to convey. And sadly enough, the film is too scared to be controversial at all. It fails to capture either side’s extremities and keeps the film on a bland and somewhat inaccurate middle ground. The film shows great potential at the beginning and the narrative works for awhile, but eventually the film just sputters to a weak, unsatisfactory end.
This truly is a shame, because “Save Me” really is trying something new. It has the potential to start a conversation between the gay and Christian communities, yet its faults are too glaring to ignore and they outweigh some of the great things about the film.
Even with these weaknesses, it is still a decent film that can hopefully lead to a peaceful and compassionate dialogue. Maybe this film will pave the way for other films that try to bridge the gap.
