YEN TAN

Bil’s rating (out of 5):   BBB. 

USA, 2013.  Vilcek Foundation, Mile Marker Film.  Screenplay by David Lowery, Yen Tan.  Cinematography by Hutch.  Produced by Jonathan Duffy, James M. Johnston, Eric Steele, Kelly Williams.  Music by Curtis Heath.  Production Design by Scott Colquitt.  Film Editing by Don Swaynos.  

Two men find the path to happiness difficult in their tiny Texas town; one of them has broken up with his boyfriend but is allowing him to stay on his couch.  The other has broken up with his wife after admitting his true sexuality, but stays living with her as a friend to raise their daughter together.  These two are meant to find each other at some point, but along the way we are treated to their melancholy missteps as they move towards fulfillment.  Bad dates, awkward internet hook-ups, the occasional argument with the missus, all leading back to the local gas station which serves as the nexus for cruising in the middle of nowhere.  It’s a good film, highly satisfying and benefiting from the appeal of its performers, who are all wonderful. The sense of stymied passion in the dust is a lot to take, though, as the film doesn’t just drip with heavy atmosphere, it positively gushes with it.  At some point it should let up on the heaviness, but there is at least a sense of grace to be found, eventually, and it does not achieve this in a pretentious or heavy-handed way.