Shelter: it’s where you’ll find life’s realities and love in its rare form
"Cute young artist, skateboarder, surfer with complicated family life and responsibilities falls for best friends uncomplicated and successful older brother. Will the relationship work out?"
I love the film, I really do. For me, It is an instant classic since Brokeback Mountain. It tells the story of being different and judged by the homophobic world without seeing the capacity of your heart. In it’s core and essence, the film stay away from the usual gay-themed films with crisp and natural form but reveals deeply relevant storytelling. I must say that it has so much sensitivity and passion, capable of bagging filmmaking awards internationally. I love how it unveils the hardship of coming-out, accepting the existence of love, friendship and the importance of family as a home. A home is not always what we used to know but it will be a home once it is filled with hearts willing to love unconditionally. A home is where you’ll feel safe from the blindness of the world sometimes.
So I wrapped up some rave reviews about the film and a synopsis. We hope it would leave the same echo in your heart as much as I do. The film is indeed an instant classic for those who wanted to look for a break from the usual sci-fi, pop culture movies.
The synopsis:
Forced to give up his dreams of art school in order to take care of his family, Zach (Trevor Wright) has become accustomed to a life where he neglects his own needs in favor of taking care of others. He spends his time working a dead-end job at a diner, and skates the urban streets of San Pedro stenciling his signature “crane” wherever he can find vacant wall space. At home he takes care of his nephew, Cody (Jackson Wurth), as his older sister, Jeanne (Tina Holmes), has clearly shown that her priorities lie elsewhere. Perhaps conveniently, with all his responsibilities, he barely has time to see his long term on-again, off-again girlfriend, Tori (Katie Walder).
When his best friend’s older brother, Shaun (Brad Rowe), returns home to cure a case of writer’s block, Shaun and Zach begin hanging out. Zach sees in Shaun someone who has truly claimed his own life and embraced his talent. Zach is both intimidated and surprisingly attracted to him. The two quickly transition from casual surf buddies into a true, intimate relationship. Shaun presses Zach to take control of his life, and to take ownership of his artwork. He also develops a strong bond with Cody, and Zach happily notices the positive effect Shaun’s attention has on him. As time progresses, however, a host of new issues come up. Zach struggles with his identity, his family, and friends, while trying to understand the new emotions Shaun has brought into his life. When the cat is let out of the bag, Jeanne threatens to take Cody away. Wanting nothing but the best for him, Zach is forced to decide between his pattern of always putting others’ desires first or fighting for what is really most important and appropriate for both his and Cody’s future.
“for all these reasons, it's important that films like this continue to be made. there are many beautiful, memorable things about SHELTER -- the plot, the character-development, the cinematography, and [yes] the acting. one of the most impressive aspects of the story is how completely it avoids the myriad gay cliches that have plagued the movies -- gay = mentally ill; gay = doomed to tragedy and death; gay = sexual predator; gay = obsessed with clubbing and drugs and material wealth. gay = incapable of actual love or of a happy family life. in avoiding all these tiresome platitudes, SHELTER offers a refreshing [and much more accurate] image of what it means to be gay in 21st-century America”
MTV
Randy Myers, Costa Rica Times
"Shelter rises very high indeed, thanks to a superb performance by Trevor Wright in the lead role, a strong supporting cast, very good cinematography and, most of all, emotional authenticity."
"Shelter may only be shoreline deep, and its ending fanciful, but the film captures the beauty, thrill and ache of young love and extracts a casual joy out of the process."
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