My friend Anna introduced me to this film today. It's difficult to believe
that I'd never heard of it. It's described as a comedy, but the humour is very
subtle. The humour isn't so much in what the film says directly, but what it
suggests.
Megan is a 17-year-old cheerleader. She seems like a normal teenage girl, but
her parents suspect her of being a lesbian, so they send her to True
Directions, a camp that carries out gay conversion therapy. At first she
strongly denies being a lesbian, because she's been dating a boy for two
years, but after intensive counselling she realises that she really does have
lesbian tendencies. This shocks her, because she's a Christian and
homosexuality is evil, but after recognising her lesbianism she agrees to the
conversion program. After all, homosexuality is an illness that can be cured.
Right? Or is it a sin? Or is it both?
The other young people in the group are less willing to be converted. Megan
observes the boys kissing each other in secret, and a girl called Graham attempts to
seduce her. That's a weird name for a girl. The whole group sneaks out to
visit a gay bar after dark.
I shan't shy away from spoilers, because I'm sure you can guess what happens.
The therapy fails, not just for Megan but for the whole group. They all become
comfortable with their homosexuality, much to the horror of the camp's
leaders.
I've heard of gay conversion camps in the USA. Are they ever successful? I
doubt it.
The only thing that confused me is that True Directions doesn't seem to be a
Christian camp. I've always assumed that gay conversion therapy is carried out
by Christian fundamentalists. The participants in the therapy are encouraged
to simulate heterosexual sex with one another. I can't imagine that happening
at a Christian camp.
Success Rate: + 0.6
Order from Amazon.com | |
Order from Amazon.co.uk |
No comments:
Post a Comment
Tick the box "Notify me" to receive notification of replies.