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Save Me

Written By Edward Moran

 

“Hate the sin but love the sinner” is an oft-quoted mantra used by church folk to express their stance on sexuality—especially of the homosexual variety. This attitude is regarded at best as a pious cliché by many people, regardless of where they stand on the sexual spectrum. At worst, it identifies a philosophy that can kill and maim, because of the way it unnaturally conflates behavior and identity. When one is a True Believer, these neat distinctions are often overlooked in the heat of fervor.

These issues may seem like theological abstractions, but they impact the lives of countless people every day, as is seen in Robert Cary’s Save Me, which premiered at Sundance and was selected as the opening night film at OutFest Los Angeles. This thoughtful and sensitively wrought film gently but savagely explores the nexus of sexuality and spirituality as it plays out at Genesis House, a Christian retreat in New Mexico where bad boys go to have their homosexual demons exorcised. Heading up Genesis House is a Christian opposite-sex couple named Gayle (Judith Light) and Ted (Stephen Lang), figures who would be the darlings of most televangelists for the no-nonsense way they enforce the Ten Commandments. But nothing in those commandments speaks specifically of same-sex attraction, nor has Jesus said anything about the matter. Still, Gayle and Ted pursue their demons of choice, largely because Gayle herself is trying to exorcise her own memories of a son who—well, you get the picture.

The narrative conflict in Save Me is centered on the story of Mark (Chad Allen), a twentysomething chap who is remanded to Genesis House by a brother who cannot abide Mark’s dalliance in drugs and hustling. The film opens with a graphic scene of a spaced-out Mark servicing a trick in a motel room. Soon after Mark arrives at the retreat house, he falls in love—true love, this time—with Scott (Robert Gant), one of the counselors whose job is to cleanse his charges of any of the deadly sins as long as it is homosexual lust.

Mark and Scott’s growing love affair is a touching thing to watch. It is truly a tale of amor vincit omnia. Their growth toward mutual affection is counterbalanced by the relationship between Ted and Gayle, who show little affection for one another because, after all, the word of God is a graven image, and it conquers all things. In Gayle’s case, especially, their compulsive, knee-jerk theology has become a neurosis.

Save Me is not terribly impressive in terms of cinematography, dialogue, or plot line. It is most remarkable as a character study of people experiencing “grace under pressure”—even though grace is perceived in radically different ways. Gayle’s performance is especially well-wrought; viewers are moved to sympathize with her even though they may disagree with her attitude and philosophy. Mark also turns in a stellar performance in his evolution from fiendish hustlerhood into mature, sensitive partnership.

Directed by Robert Cary
Story by Craig Chester and Alan Hines
Screenplay by Robert Desiderio
Director of photography:Rodney Taylor
Edited by Phillip Bartell
Music by Jeff Cardoni
Production designer:Ray Kluga
Produced by Christopher Racster
Herb Hamsher, Chad Allen, Robert Gant and Judith Light
Released by First Run Features.
Running time: 1 hour 36 minutes.
This film is not rated.

Cast: Chad Allen (Mark)
Robert Gant (Scott)
Judith Light (Gayle)
Stephen Lang (Ted),
and Robert Baker (Lester).