Big Eden

Big Eden
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Thomas Bezucha
Written by	Thomas Bezucha
Starring	Arye Gross Eric Schweig Tim DeKay Louise Fletcher George Coe Nan Martin O'Neal Compton Corinne Bohrer Veanne Cox Douglas Sebern Parker Livingston Cody Wayne Meixner Josie Adams Mark Twogood Christopher Kendra
Release date(s)	2000
Running time	118 min (Brazil) 117 min (USA)
Country	USA
Language	English

Big Eden (2000) is a gay-themed romantic drama film written and directed by Thomas Bezucha. It won awards from several gay and lesbian film festivals, and was nominated for best limited release film at the GLAAD Media Awards in 2002.

Plot

The film stars Arye Gross as Henry Hart, a successful gay artist from New York City who returns to his rural hometown in Montana to care for his ailing grandfather. Henry is welcomed back by the townsfolk, all of whom are aware of his sexuality and are highly accepting and even supportive towards him (the film's plot and dialogue notably has a complete absence of homophobic content). However, during the months he stays in the town, Henry is forced to confront his unresolved feelings for his high school friend Dean Stewart (Tim DeKay), while simultaneously beginning to fall in love with Pike Dexter (Eric Schweig), the shy Native American owner of the town's general store.

Cast

• Arye Gross .... Henry Hart
• Eric Schweig .... Pike Dexter
• Tim DeKay .... Dean Stewart
• Louise Fletcher.... Grace Cornwell
• George Coe .... Sam Hart
• Nan Martin .... Widow Thayer
• O'Neal Compton .... Jim Soams
• Corinne Bohrer .... Anna Rudolph
• Christopher Kendra .... Bird
• Veanne Cox .... Mary Margaret Bishop
• Cody Wayne Meixner .... Ben Stewart

Production

The movie was filmed in Montana, mostly in and near Glacier National Park. The schoolhouse is in West Glacier, and the Big Eden houses are on the shore of Lake McDonald. Pike's general store is a building located in Swan Lake, Montana.

Soundtrack

The film combines both classic and contemporary country songs, though there was no commercially released soundtrack. Tracks featured in the film are:

• George Jones: "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes" (from the 1964 United Artits album 'The Race Is On')
• Dwight Yoakam: "A Thousand Miles From Nowhere" (1993 Reprise/Warner Bros.)
• Buck Owens: "Together Again" (1965 Capitol)
• Jim Reeves: "Welcome To My World" (1963 RCA Victor)
• Skeeter Davis: "Optimistic" (1961 RCA Victor)
• Lucinda Williams: "Something About What Happens When We Talk" (from her 1993 album 'Sweet Old World')
• George Jones: "Achin' Breakin' Heart" (1962 Mercury)
• David Allan Coe: "A Sad Country Song" (1974 Epic/CBS)
• Lari White: "Wishes" (from her 1994 RCA album "Wishes')
• Dwight Yoakam & Patty Loveless: "Send A Message To My Heart" (1992 Reprise/Warner Bros.)

In addition to these tracks that are or were commercially available, the film features two performances by a group called Railroad Earth. Actress Louise Fletcher also performs 'Take Me in Your Arms and Hold Me' which was originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1949. The film's original score was composed by Joseph Conlan.

Reception

The film received awards and nominations from a number of independent film festivals, including a nomination for best limited release film at the GLAAD Media Awards in 2002.

Awards

• 2000 L.A. Outfest: Audience Award - Outstanding Narrative Feature; Grand Jury Award - Outstanding Actor in a Feature Film: Eric Schweig
• 2000 San Francisco International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival: Audience Award - Best Feature
• 2000 Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival: Audience Award - Favorite Narrative Feature
• 2000 Cleveland International Film Festival: Best American Independent Feature Film; Best Film
• 2001 Florida Film Festival: Audience Award - Best Narrative Feature
• 2001 Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival: Jury Award - Best Fiction Feature
• 2001 Toronto Inside Out Lesbian and Gay Film and Video Festival: Audience Award - Best Feature Film or Video

External links

• Big Eden at the Internet Movie Database