Savage Grace
Bold and unsettling drama from New Queer Cinema pioneer Tom Kalin.A welcome return with a bold drama from Tom Kalin whose Swoon was a key New Queer Cinema title. Barbara Daly marries into the wealthy Baekeland family and produces a son Tony. As they move between houses in New York, Spain and Paris, Barbara's marriage to Brooks Baekeland disintegrates. Brooks leaves with Bianca, the subject of a short affair with Tony. Tony then shacks up with Jake and never forgives his father for leaving him. Brooks never forgives his son's homosexuality. With Brooks gone the affected Barbara's smothering intensifies and her son becomes even more affected himself. 'I am the steam when hot meets cold' he says acknowledging the thinness of his existence.
As the film progresses, the sense of decadence, which includes incest, leads to an un-glamorous end for both mother and son. Kalin, in portraying the episodic true life story of this dysfunctional family, manages to calmly shock. This is a troubled film that lacks a moral centre, as does its protagonist. But that is why it works so well.
Topher Campbell
