A touching and inspiring story of enduring love and same-sex relationship involving the writer Christopher Isherwood and his partner Don Bachardy.
The strength of this movie comes from
actual photos and extensive footage from home movies and not so much on staged
re-enactments that usually pepper documentaries of this nature. These home
movies serve as a testament to a strong and happy (and controversial)
relationship displayed alongside some of Hollywood and literary greats of the time. Both men
are talented in their own right but the movie's true inspiration comes from
seeing their courageous 30-year plus relationship lived out in the open during
closeted times, and it is Don's actions and motivation during Christopher's
death that expresses the true depth of their spiritual and emotional bond.
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| Don Bachardy painting a life portrait of his partner Christopher Isherwood |
However, it is hard to overlook the circumstances that might have contributed to
the success of their love (and to its controversy). Their May-December relationship
is disturbing when one realizes just how young Don was when he started
dating Christopher and the effect this might have had on Don's own sense of self-worth
and identity. This not only comes to the surface when Don admits to emulating
Chris's mannerisms and speech but also in his admission to his constant need of
approval from Christopher in even deciding what to wear. The fact that Christopher (through his
writing) professes to be attracted only to those outside (and beneath) his blue-blood social class taints this relationship with an air of manipulation. Which is
unfortunate, because what could be seen as a successful and validating gay
relationship during times of adversity at times becomes tarred by seeming as subjugated love.
Review originally written on 4/2/10
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