Life looks like that mass of dots to me sometimes. None of it makes any sense, but I like to think that, from God's perspective, life, everything - even this - make sense. It's not just dots. Instead we're all connected, and it's beautiful and funny and good. This close we can't expect it to make sense, not right now. - Aaron Davis, Latter Days
I remember watching Latter Days years ago when I lived with my parents. I kept the DVD hidden, not wanting to tell my parents I bought a 'gay film'. I did not tell them I was gay, nor did I really know anything about being gay outside what I saw on the internet. When this film started, Aaron Davis, a Mormon missionary, explains about the lights of the city and how confusing it all seems to be. This opening reminded me much about my current life. Even in rural South Dakota, I wanted to see those confusing lights of the city and see how much truth movies like this perpetuated.
The story revolves around Christian, a gay man living from one sexual partner to the next wearing good looking clothes and drinking booze with his friends on a regular basis. When he finally meets Aaron, he sees his next conquest, although neither Christian nor the audience know the entire story (outside of the DVD case or the Netflix synopsis). Christian and Julie, Christian’s roommate, quickly find out their neighbors live the simple life as Mormon Missionaries. Their co-workers bet against Christian’s talents of picking up men. They place fifty dollars and two weeks bussing tables against his ability to get the underwear of one of the Missionaries. He senses his conquest in the newest member, Elder Aaron Davis.
The inevitably sexual confrontation happens when Christian cuts himself. Aaron cleans him up as Christian tries to keep himself from passing out. Christian goes into his bedroom to lie down and Aaron follows behind. When Christian says a little fun ‘doesn’t have to mean anything’ Aaron pulls away and dissects what little he knows about Christian’s personality. He tells Christian he is mostly ‘fluff’ and that he wants more than what Christian is. He leaves leaving Christian to feel inadequate. Christian begins his own journey with the help of his fellow co-worker leading him to volunteer with Project Angelfood and delivers food to people with AIDS.
Christian tries to show Aaron he has changed, but to seemingly no avail. However, when one of the other Mormon Missionaries gets hurt Aaron blames himself. Christian sees him on his way home and comforts him with a hug that led to a kiss. The other missionaries walk in and see the two of them together kicking Christian out. Aaron gets swiftly sent home, and Christian follows him to Salt Lake City.
The remainder of the story plays out with highs and lows of emotions sending the young me reeling on the possibilities of city life outside of the small town life. The conservative nature of the Mormon Church presented in the movie makes me feel incredibly sad. (I know little about the actual Mormon Church so I base my perceptions solely on the film). My church never forced me to be anything, although they warned me against witchcraft when I looked into the Wiccan religion. However, the conservative nature as a whole I understand. Sometimes, even in the college town I live in, the place feels constraining. The people here do not persecute me openly, but it sometimes feels like they do not understand the pressure one feels living outside the norm. This movie shows how to overcome that and move forward.
The acting as a whole amazed me. Jacqueline Bisset amazed me; especially considering this was the first movie I ever saw her in. Wes Ramsey, Steve Sandvoss, and Rebekah Jordan’s acting worked for the film, and in retrospect, I can’t think of other actors who could play these roles as well as the ones chosen. They personified the feelings and emotions of their characters starting us off with the crazy life of Los Angeles, leading us to a frigid conservative life in Idaho, and bringing us full circle with an understanding of the confusion this world they inhabit brings.
I cannot end this without talking about the wonderful music. Julie’s actress, Rebekah Jordan, sings the majority of the songs throughout which made me inevitably look her up on YouTube to hear more of her music. Julie’s, and Rebekah’s, voice still rings from time-to-time in my head causing me to look it up and hear it. The haunting melody plays through the later parts of the movie bringing the story to its warm and hopeful resolution.
I recommend this film for anyone who enjoys watching films about overcoming not only social adversity, but overcoming your own failings.
