*English Abstract *

This drama about a gay college professor's reunion with his conservative family in the 1970s works best in its first half, where its restrained and sober tone matches that of its protagonist. It is when the inks are loaded that the story becomes more conventional.

Anyway, the film is sustained by the very good work of its cast, particularly Paul Bettany, whose Frank describes an arc that goes from a distant and preventive placidity to the most heartbreaking pain.

English Review

Frank (Paul Bettany) is a gay college professor who lives with his partner Walid (Peter Macdissi) in New York in the early 1970s. Before the death of a relative, he must return to his hometown of South Carolina, accompanied by his niece Beth (Sophia Lillis, protagonist of the very good series This shit surpasses me / I Am Not Okay With This and present in It and Sharp Objects), which implies a traumatic reencounter with his past.

Alan Ball's film covers the well-traveled topic of the conflictive relationship of a homosexual male with his family and in particular with his father. Frank has not cut ties with his family, but is staying away from her and jealously hiding his life from him.

The film works best in its first half during the raising of the status quo prior to the protagonist's journey, with situations that even border on comedy. Then he maintains a certain precarious balance during his “road movie” segment. It is in Frank's reunion with his Christian and conservative family and events from his past erupt that the tone of the film changes, with the story entering more dramatic, but also more conventional territory. It could be said that these stages correspond to the evolution of the protagonist, but the first ones are better treated.

Anyway, the film is sustained by its cast, in particular by the work of its protagonist, in an arc that goes from a distant and preventive placidity to the most heartbreaking pain.