SYNOPSICS
Rock Haven (2007) is a English movie. David Lewis has directed this movie. Sean Hoagland,Owen Alabado,Laura Jane Coles,Katheryn Hecht are the starring of this movie. It was released in 2007. Rock Haven (2007) is considered one of the best Drama,Romance movie in India and around the world.
Brady (Sean Hoagland), who will shortly be going away to college, is a shy, introspective 18 year old, who moves to the coastal seaside town of Rock Haven with his overprotective, widowed mother Marty (Laura Jane Coles), who is setting up a Christian school nearby. He spends a lot of time on the beach, either reading the bible or staring at the waves crashing on shore, until he meets a neighbour's free- spirited visiting son, 19 year old Clifford (Owen Alabado). There is an instant attraction to each other, even though homosexuality conflicts with Brady's devoutly Christian beliefs. Brady has struggled with his feelings before and spends a lot of time showering, as if to scrub these feelings away. He seeks advice from his pastor (played by David Lewis, the director), who tries to reassure him by emphasising biblical texts which portray God as non-condemnatory love. Brady's mother, sensing that something is wrong, tries to fix him up with a nice Christian girl - who knows immediately ...
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Rock Haven (2007) Reviews
A Beautiful, Heart-felt Film
I saw this beautiful movie at the Outfest film festival in Los Angeles with some friends who dragged me along. I am glad they did. Let me be up front: I am a sucker for romance, so I was pleasantly surprised and moved by how sexy and romantic the story was. The two young men have a great chemistry on the screen, and they ably carry the movie. The film also has a disarming sense of humor at times, but not at the expense of the characters. There are very few films that attempt to deal with spirituality, let alone in the gay context. Yes, the film may be unabashedly sentimental, but in this cynical day and age where most gay characters on screen are trying to figure out their wardrobe or their next conquest at the bars, it was refreshing to see a film take a chance. I loved it.
Sweet, romantic story ... but ENOUGH with the waves already!
The plot of "Rock Haven" (2007) is simple and realistic, though far from original: is being gay an impossibility if you consider yourself a Christian as well? Brady is a shy, introspective 18 year old spending the summer before going away to college in a small coast town in Northern California. He is there with his widowed mother, who is a devout Christian in the process of establishing a religious school for the local pastor. Brady spends most of his time either reading the bible or staring off at the waves crashing on shore, until he meets a neighbor's free- spirited visiting son, 19 year old Clifford. While we later find out that Brady had some early inklings that he was somewhat attracted to other boys, he never before felt drawn to anyone as he feels to Clifford, and the other boy makes it clear that the feeling is mutual. Sensing his apprehensions and inexperience, Clifford lets their relationship develop slowly over the course of the summer, and, although he kids Brady about being a "nerd" in many of his interests, is careful not to express a conflict with his religious upbringing and convictions. A beautifully written story by director/writer David Lewis ("Under One Roof"), capably acted by a talented Bay Area cast. While the basic plot is not original, and the story development somewhat predictable, it is told in a well-paced, sweet and romantic manner that lets the viewer feel the emotions experienced by the characters. The one negative I must point out is Lewis' seeming obsession with numerous extended scenes of waves crashing on the beach (Waves wash out like past experiences, wash back to erase what was on the sand before, metaphor for life going on, new beginnings, yadda yadda yadda ... WE GET IT! The ocean should not have more screen time than the actors!) Other than that, I enjoyed the film and recommend it, especially for those who may be going through a similar dilemma. DVD has deleted scenes, production stills and trailer. No director commentary, which would have been nice (I'd have loved to hear what he says about the ocean scenes. :)
sincere, sensitive and moving
It keeps amazing me, that one and the same movie can generate such totally opposite reactions on this site. I saw "Rock Haven" last night, and was totally charmed by it. To me it seemed sincere, respectful, realistic, sensitive, engaging and very touching. To begin with: I didn't mind all the waves at all, it sort of created this dream-like atmosphere that contributed to the feeling of an endless summer, of being a little bit outside of the real world - exactly as one should feel on summer-vacation. The many silences in the interaction between the few characters may have felt awkward, but that was precisely the point, evoking in the viewers the same feelings as in the protagonists of the movie. And the silences between Brady and Clifford also enhanced the wonderful feeling of sexual tension that kept building up. Both young actors did a great job: maybe not Oscar-winning performances (as the script didn't aim on providing them with Oscar-winning material), but they were (to me) exactly right for their parts: the one naive, innocent, cute and terribly afraid of his own feelings; the other sensual, a little more streetwise, and yet as much afraid of this fragile new love as his friend. There was noticeable chemistry between the two of them and all this mutual shyness and carefulness and awkwardness felt very realistic: that's how it goes (or should go) with first loves and first sexual experiences. Sure, I felt disappointed, even a bit cheated, that Brady didn't ran off to the airport to stop Clifford from leaving, after he came to terms with himself and with his mother, I would so much have enjoyed a happy ending. But this is obviously how the writer wanted it, and it makes sense too: how many first loves - especially summer-loves!- that at the time seemed like The Bigggests Thing ever, just evaporate after summer is over. Maybe Brady was too young and too much a freshman in his new state of being out and in love, to expect him to take such a bold and theatrical step as rushing to the airport en reclaiming his love. Then there were reviewers who commented on the way the mother sort of exchanged her acceptance (or toleration) of her son's being gay for her right to have her own (negative) opinions on homosexuality. Maybe that seemed like some artificial paradox, but to me it actually did make sense. Personally I came out as being gay in the same kind of suffocating (roman-catholic) environment, and my mother cried hell (and worse!). I tried to make her at least respect me in having my own feelings. She could not. I only share this with you to point out that I would have died for a mother who took this up as Brady's mother did, even if it's "just" a compromise or some sort of truce. You simply cannot expect everyone to change. And we gays should stop monopolizing the rest of the world in pointing out what's politically correct behavior. If you want respect, you have to give some too. If anything, I was a bit disappointed in the religious "solution" of the story. I could relate (how could I not, with my background!) to the doubts of Brady (like: "how can something so beautiful be a sin?"). But the end of the movie suggested some sort of religious catharsis that failed me. The role of the priest was rather dubious, what he had to offer as support and wisdom was cryptic to say the least. So I couldn't really grasp the fact that apparently Brady in the end could bring his being gay to terms with his religious beliefs, just by two quotes from the bible. As I know it, the RC church still thinks that being gay is alright but acting on it is wrong and sinful. So what "solution" did Brady end up with?? I'm sorry that I do not know the writer's real agenda on this. For the rest, I absolutely enjoyed the movie, the beautiful and effective photography, the sincere and subtle direction, the powerful script and these two young and very promising actors (and let's not forget Laura Jane Coles as the rigid mother!). A last word about the one and only nude scene. There are a zillion adult movies to choose from if you want sex and nudity, so I don't expect or need that at all in a movie like this. That's why it took me a bit by surprise. And the even bigger surprise was, that it DID fit in and it worked like wonder. Because it allowed us, the audience, to share the exact feelings of these two guys, their amazement and awe at being together totally naked for the first time. It took their breath away, as it did mine. That really proves how powerful and instinctive David Lewis's direction was. I give it a heartfelt 10 out of 10!!
Nice Sea Oats, Clover, Ocean Rocks, but...
ROCK HAVEN seems to have its heart in the right place, showing the conflict between the religious right and human sexuality that occurs between two young teenagers, but the script is minimal, uncomfortable in saying what it really wants to say, and in the end the resulting film is a long drawn out series of a few sentences followed by lengthy views of the ocean and the wild flowers at coastline (even though Bodega Bay is stunningly beautiful to watch!). Brady (Sean Hoagland) lives at the beach with his mother (Laura Jane Coles) preparing to go to Bible college at summer's end: the two are strongly right wing religious people. Into this rather rigid atmosphere steps Clifford (Owen Alabado) and there is an immediate chemistry between the two young lads - Clifford being openly gay while Brady is so far back in the dark closet that Clifford's mere presence terrifies him. Clifford's mother (Katheryn Hecht) is a free spirit who deals comfortably with her son's feelings and tries to support Brady in his fear of sinning. Brady's mother 'can't change the way she believes' (gay relationships are sinful) and tries to 'change' Brady by encouraging his attraction to a sweet well-meaning girl (Erin Daly) who just happens to understand Brady's needs more than he does! The manner in which this conflict is approached and quasi-resolved is weak as written and directed by David Lewis (who also plays the role of the minister...), and the ending is unsatisfactory at best. The quality of acting is low on the scale but the sincerity is palpable. The viewer wants to care for these young lads confronting love for the first time, but the situation posed by the meager dialog and the ending keep it from becoming the nice little wisp of a film it could have been. The scenery is the star, but it is hardly the 'haven' for this dilemma that the title suggests. Grady Harp
I loved it
I must be one of the easily impressed as described in an earlier review. I thought this film was excellently directed and written. Coming from a Christian and conservative background, I can relate with the tension of coming to terms with absolute truths about oneself. It is difficult to reconcile blind faith with the reality of actual experience. I envy those who can define and reach that balance. This film is a rare depiction of the inner conflict so many young and not so young individuals have to deal with daily. The strength of the character Brady shows those who feel alone and isolated that their feelings are valid. I wish I could have seen this film as an adolescent. To me, this film has the potential to comfort a confused teenager in a positive and potentially lifesaving way. For me Rock Haven hit home.