Latter Days (DVD, 2004, Unrated Version)

Only a person of the talent who brought us “Sweet Home Alabama”, and who was a Mormon Missionary as a young man, could bring us this movie. His talent and insight merges into his writing and directing a movie that would be nominated for an Oscar under different societal circumstances.

It eventually becomes a love story, but along the way it portrays accurately both young, promiscuous gay men and the gamut of Mormon Missionaries, some of whom can be jerks, while most are sweet, sincere young men who feel a responsibility to help people in need or those who are in emotional crisis.

This is a tender, yet serious movie, while also providing insight to the fact that the lives of gays in our society are not all sex and partying envied (mostly by homophobic men), as well as debunking the theory that gays are a threat to family values and our traditional family structure.

It also provides examples and hope that young flaky, promiscuous gay men can become grounded and responsible, as well as bigoted straight men being capable of the occasional good deed when their inner human being emerges.

Mary Kay Place delivers a wonderful performance as the LDS Missionary’s mother between them after the young man has been sent home from his Mission in disgrace, and summarily ex-communicated by his father the Stake President (Regional Manager in “gentile” terms), for simply kissing a man. The scene is powerful and worth watching the movie in itself.

The glue that holds this movie together, in my opinion, is Jacqueline Bisset’s amazing performance as the owner of a restaurant where the gay characters are employed, and her treatment of them as if they were her own family. She delivers a remarkable performance as a middle age lady with class and compassion for others while running a tight ship providing a positive role model for them.

Being LDS, but now voluntarily “inactive”, I can attest this film does NOT vilify or slander the Mormon Church. It merely presents but one conflict inherent in the current application of its Doctrine on many issues which haunt inactive members, resulting in their becoming “Jack Mormons”.

Towards the end of the movie, there is a plot twist reminiscent of the classic film “Laura” from the late 1940’s. Skipping this film for moral or political reasons will be your loss!