A panicked fearful Lucas Hedges as Jared makes a desperate cell phone call crouched in the Men’s Restroom, “Mom, I’m in trouble!” Jarred is captive in a conversion program “The Source” which is supposed to “cure” him of his homosexuality. Nicole Kidman as Mom Nancy rescues her son, confronting program leader Victor Sykes, played by Joel Edgerton, as fraud. “Shame on you!”
Holding Jared’s hand Nancy says, “A Mother knows… I’m sorry I let you down.” Nicole and Lucas are touching screen partnership. At times Writer and Director Joel Edgerton’s “Boy Erased” is capricious narrative darkness, yet the story of a Mother’s unconditional love transcends. Nancy boldly declares, “I love God. I love my son.” That’s not as transparent for Jared’s Preacher Father Marshall, played by earnest solid Russell Crowe. Regardless, Marshall is a decent man.
Nicole is so strong and so compassionate as unassuming Nancy. Lucas completely beguiles in his naked authenticity as suffering Jared. He’s the rising star and the soul of “Boy Erased”. Lucas and Nicole’s visceral poignant chemistry unconceals the beauty in some of the movie’s imperfections. Imperfection reveals in the ugliness of suffering conversion therapy and the depiction of graphic rape. I presume the narrative sources from Garrad Conley’s memoir “Boy Erased”, the basis of Joel’s screenplay. Yet, Joel’s harsher cinematic brush strokes occur exploitive.
Joel also plays conversion program leader Sykes as villainous homophobe. This fails in the sense we can’t discern the nobility of his cause to ‘cure’ Jared and others. Sykes himself possesses the stereotypical vibe of one pretending what he’s not, in terms of his own sexuality. Joel’s Sykes seems only opinion, not at all clinician. He comes off as stupid albeit well-intentioned which doesn’t enroll us in his purpose. Despite these narrative failings, Director Joel acutely focuses on the profound impact of Jared’s loss of self-expression, his freedom to just be.
When his college mate Henry, who raped Jared– played by Joe Alwyn, outs Jared, he confesses his sexuality to his parents. He says, “I think of men… I’m so sorry.” How tragically sad. Jared is sorry for being who he is? He has no freedom to be himself.
His Father Marshall says, “God cannot love you, the way you are.” He sends Jared away to the conversion program to “cure” Jared of his sins. Nancy stays with Jared while he receives his treatment. Amazingly, these conversion programs still exist in the over 30 States in the US.
Lucas is brilliant composed awareness as Jared. He gets that he won’t change, and that will go badly for him. Lucas’s eloquent gentleness is his distinct power and his voice. He shows kindness to bullied Cameron, quietly sad Britton Sear. For survival sake, gay participant Gary, played by Troye Sivan, instructs, “Fake it till you make it.”
“Boy Erased” is one of the year’s best movies in its inquiry into the nature of our humanity. There are things that we can change. There are things that we can’t. What about the things that we can change that will make a difference? That possibility exists for both Jared and his Dad. Russell is authentic conflict as he resolves the things that can and can’t change. He is a Man of God. He loves his son. Jared is gay. So what will he do?
“Boy Erased” is about the freedom to be who you are: Accepting what you can change and what you can’t. Like Nicole’s Nancy says, “A Mother knows.” Love others unconditionally. Grant them the freedom to be. Freedom is everyone’s birthright.
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Originally published on IMBD.
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Photo credit: Shutterstock, modified