Big Eden (2001)

A Modern Day Fairy Tale Set In Rural America

By fruitofamilytree  Mar 15, 2006

Pros: What was unique about this movie was that it was so well balanced. It is not a wild gay romp, but rather a slice of life as it should be!

Cons: The only downside to this is that I now want my own BIG EDEN! Does such a beautiful place exist? If you know of such a place please tell meeee!!

Henry Hart has been living in New York for the past 18 years, working as an artist and has been successful though he does not seem to be very engaged in his life. He seems to just be going through the motions. The day before the big gallery exhibit o...f his works, he gets the phone call that his grandfather has had a stroke and is in the hospital. Henry rushes immediately home to Big Eden to take care of the loving grandfather who helped raise him. He decides to extend his stay after grandpa gets better because he discovers that his best friend Dean from high school has just moved back home. Henry has always been secretly in love with Dean. This has caused Henry great inner turmoil which he has ignored for all these years. This tension continues as Straigh boy Dean, the former star of the football team, (and still in great shape!) and very outgoing is not afraid to touch in public. He playfully slaps Henry on the rump, hugs him every chance he gets and even cuts in at the dance and whisks Henry around the dancefloor. Dean says to Henry: "You are my family" and "man, I would do anything in the world for you, anything!" and is always looking so intently into Henry's eyes. Can Dean be changing his orientation?! Henry on the other hand is more reserved and troubled by it all. He has never "come out." And the tension is building for these two and and now others around town. Henry's homecoming has created a ripple effect that is only getting bigger. All aboard for a ride on the emotional rollercoaster! As the characters sort out all these big life issues, there is no better place than Big Eden to do so, where everyone has true affection for each other. Everyone in town hugs and kisses and touches everyone in a most natural way. You could not ask for a more supportive environment! In case you haven't figured it out yet, this movie is a fairy tale, not based on reality, it is a dream world. This is how life should be but most often is not, not in current American society. Maybe I am wrong, maybe there is a Big Eden out there somewhere in rural America. But I think it is a fantasy to expect a small town in America to come this close to Nirvana. I can only dream of finding such a place where the natural beauty of the landscape is mirrored by such true caring for each other, where everyone accepts each other as they are and loves them unconditionally. Where every one is permitted to be themselves and show affection openly and honestly and where "the good of the community" does not mean negating what is good for the individual. Instead each individual is nurtured and loved and returns the favor to others, thus building a strong and wonderous community. Is it too much to ask for such a dream to be true, that all of America (or better yet, the world) could be such an affirming place? I hope not. I think everyone should view this film and should discuss it and get to understand it and experience how wonderful it would be if we were all so accepting and understanding of ourselves and others. Maybe then we would be able to mold our everyday reality into just such a "fairy tale"! Wouldn't that just be Eden on Earth again?! Read more Less