Well-acted with very believable characters, we follow the story arc of 13-year old Emerson being forced out of the home-schooling nest by his free-spirit, eco-friendly hippies-cum-parents into the harsh (I'm sure by Canadian standards) world of public education.
This event is a catalyst for Emerson (predictably) and for his parents and new teacher (not so predictably). For Emerson it is all new wounds, for his parents and teacher it is a reevaluation and in some senses an awakening.
This is a thoroughly pleasant study of idealism accommodating reality, the (sometimes) thin line between romantic love vs fraternal love, romantic sex vs lustful sex, and friendship vs fraternity. And it's a nicely developed story of coming of age, coming out of the closet and coming to your senses.
I would like to think of this as a good movie for all ages, but perhaps I'm too liberal and open-minded/lax in discipline. As 10% films go, it just barely qualifies; the gay theme is subordinate to the stories of the individuals, each with their individual histories, needs, and future.
This event is a catalyst for Emerson (predictably) and for his parents and new teacher (not so predictably). For Emerson it is all new wounds, for his parents and teacher it is a reevaluation and in some senses an awakening.
This is a thoroughly pleasant study of idealism accommodating reality, the (sometimes) thin line between romantic love vs fraternal love, romantic sex vs lustful sex, and friendship vs fraternity. And it's a nicely developed story of coming of age, coming out of the closet and coming to your senses.
I would like to think of this as a good movie for all ages, but perhaps I'm too liberal and open-minded/lax in discipline. As 10% films go, it just barely qualifies; the gay theme is subordinate to the stories of the individuals, each with their individual histories, needs, and future.