THE FALLS

US, 2012, 91 minutes, Colour.

Nick Ferrucci, Benjamin Farmer, Brian Savile Allard. Quinn Allen, Paul Angelo, Harold Phillips.

Directed by Jon Garcia.

The Falls films comprise a trilogy, the story of two young men, significantly members of The Church of Latter Day Saints, the Mormons, from devout families, committed families, who undertake the required mission, encountering people in the streets. The first film elaborates the start of the mission, practical details, the challenge to faith, temptations in the form of alcohol and drugs, the two young men encountering an Iraq veteran with PTSD, befriending him, his opening up a world beyond their experience.

However, in the first film, there is the sexual attraction between the two, hesitations, doubts, prayer, moral principles, defiance and decisions.

The same actors appear through the three films, Nick Ferrucci as RJ, Benjamin Farmer  as Chris. The young men’s parents also appear throughout the films. Each film was written and directed by Jon Garcia.

The second film features the aftermath of the decision, the two going on travels but returning home, RJ leaving the church, becoming a writer, Chris severing connections, going back home to Salt Lake City, marrying, starting a family, working as a salesman but belonging to the church, heavily influenced by his parents. RJ’s parents are much more sympathetic.

The death and funeral of the PTSD friend brings the two together, Chris hesitant, RJ more impetuous, intruding on the family and Chris’s wife.

This is significant in the second film, her discovering the truth, sense of betrayal, the camera dramatising her experience with a great number of close-ups, intense.

The emphasis is on the struggle, each handling the meetings in a different way, Chris having to face his father and the church, RJ in a dramatic (which some find and realistically overdramatic) scene where he kisses Chris during a public function.

The third film has each of the two accepting their sexual orientation, RJ in a relationship but breaking it, the need for him to be reunited with Chris. The funeral of Chris’s mother is an occasion, with RJ’s father also attending, the confrontation, reconciliation, and a challenge to Chris’s father, his role with the elders of the church, the change to his beliefs.

Ultimately, there is the reconciliation and the families participating in a marriage ceremony.

Important is the director’s perspective on the Mormons, as a church, its origins, American history, presence in Salt Lake City, the mission, the young missionaries and their service, the governments, the elders, the quorum, the president. There is the Church’s language of Heavenly Father, images of Jesus but few references to him in prayer, the quality of faith and prayer, pervading every-day life. Then the film and its critique of the Mormons – but this trilogy as a challenge to the Church’s stances of same-sex relationships, no baptism of children in same-sex relationships, the plea for humanity and God’s love and interpreting the letter of the law.

So, the three films and the portrait of the two men, their faith, the mission, their identity, sexual orientation, relationships, struggles and alienation, faith, faith, convictions and the films as a plea for faith and belief but also for an acknowledgement of God’s role in human lives, love, tradition morality, challenges.

1. The title, the reference to The Falls, the Park, the gay park? Symbolic?
2. The focus on the Church of Latter Day Saints, zeal response, interested, sympathetic, not? The approach of the writer-director, appreciation, understanding, life, commitment, mission, the traditions, Joseph Smith, his life and teachings, his behaviour? Criticisms? Respect even with the different perspectives on moral issues?
3. The focus on RJ Smith? 20, family, brought up as Mormon, faith, zeal? His parents and sister? Going on mission? The accommodation, meeting Elder Harris, introduction to Elder Merrill, sharing the room, Elder Merrill and his background, experience of mission?
4. The two working together, sharing the room, exercise, jogging? On mission, in the streets, Merrill and his experience and advice, RJ and his inexperience, the coaching of how to approach people, the book of Mormon, quoting texts? People passing by, interested, not interested, comments? The meal with the man and his comments, friendly, then criticising Joseph Smith for polygamy and being a paedophile? Their reactions?
5. The routine, the regime, supervision, reporting back, success of mission or not?
6. The visit to Rodney, his background, Iraq, his brother and death, PTSD, brought up Catholic, his mother, interested to meet the two, at home with them, the visits, giving him the book, texts, his watching television and then reading the book, his questions? Their liking him, his way of life, pot, television, watching pornography? Their mellowing, RJ and his trying out the pot, Chris and his reaction? The bond and friendship – and the later consequences?
7. Relaxing the regime, going to the movies, taking time off?
8. In the woods, relieving themselves, the bikes, the approach, the attraction, the sexual encounter? In the room, their emotions, sexual experiences? Their being caught by Elder Harris?
9. The authorities, the reactions? RJ, his parents, their expectations, his father, the explanations, his mother sympathy? His having to go home?
10. His audience with the bishop, the camera focused on RJ? His going home, facing the reality, explanations to his father, athletics, wrestling, his achievements, but his sexual orientation?
11. Issues of faith, believing in the Mormon tradition, wanting understanding, moving away from church practice? His future?