The Miseducation of Cameron Post (2018) was co-written and directed by Desiree Akhavan. The film stars Chloë Grace Moretz as Cameron, a young lesbian woman who is sent to a Christian conversion center that is supposed to help teens struggling with "same-sex attraction."
The school is directed by Dr. Lydia Marsh, brilliantly portrayed by Jennifer Ehle. According to the movie's hype about the center's staff, these "would-be villains are almost sympathetic."
To me, Dr. Marsh isn't almost sympathetic. She's not even close to being sympathetic. She's a person who has teenagers in her power, and she makes their lives miserable with a detailed system of reinforcements and punishments.
Conversion centers are legal in 41 states. That's a horrifying reality. New York State--where the movie takes place--has made it difficult, but not impossible, to run a conversion center. Each year the NYS Assembly passes legislation to make these centers illegal. Each year the NYS Senate kills the legislation. (Whether the NYS Senate will be changed after the 2018 elections remains to be seen. Even if that happens, we will have to see if they will pass protective legislation.)
The acting of all the teens at the facility is strong. Director Akhavan must have a magic touch to bring out such strong performances. She doesn't need a magic touch for Chloë Grace Moretz, who is already a skilled performer.
Of course, Jennifer Ehle is a brilliant actor. She makes us believe in her (hateful) behavior. It wasn't clear to me whether she truly believed that she was helping the children placed within her charge, or whether she was just doing this to make a living and exert her power. Either way, she portrays a woman you wouldn't want to cross.
We saw this film at Rochester's wonderful Dryden Theatre at The George Eastman Museum. It was shown as part of Image Out, the excellent Rochester LGBT Festival.
It will work on the small screen. Seek it out and watch it!
The school is directed by Dr. Lydia Marsh, brilliantly portrayed by Jennifer Ehle. According to the movie's hype about the center's staff, these "would-be villains are almost sympathetic."
To me, Dr. Marsh isn't almost sympathetic. She's not even close to being sympathetic. She's a person who has teenagers in her power, and she makes their lives miserable with a detailed system of reinforcements and punishments.
Conversion centers are legal in 41 states. That's a horrifying reality. New York State--where the movie takes place--has made it difficult, but not impossible, to run a conversion center. Each year the NYS Assembly passes legislation to make these centers illegal. Each year the NYS Senate kills the legislation. (Whether the NYS Senate will be changed after the 2018 elections remains to be seen. Even if that happens, we will have to see if they will pass protective legislation.)
The acting of all the teens at the facility is strong. Director Akhavan must have a magic touch to bring out such strong performances. She doesn't need a magic touch for Chloë Grace Moretz, who is already a skilled performer.
Of course, Jennifer Ehle is a brilliant actor. She makes us believe in her (hateful) behavior. It wasn't clear to me whether she truly believed that she was helping the children placed within her charge, or whether she was just doing this to make a living and exert her power. Either way, she portrays a woman you wouldn't want to cross.
We saw this film at Rochester's wonderful Dryden Theatre at The George Eastman Museum. It was shown as part of Image Out, the excellent Rochester LGBT Festival.
It will work on the small screen. Seek it out and watch it!