Brutally abused by his parents, teenage Thomas finds comfort in associating with a film director who is making a documentary about physical child abuse. The two fall in love, and the elder is faced with the decision of either running away with Thomas or focusing on his career and thereby letting the boy possibly be beaten to death.
Acting
Sbarge's fragility and steel — a performance that deserved better than obscurity.
Writing
Bressan's script refuses easy villains or heroes.
Director
Arthur J. Bressan, Jr.
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
One of the earliest American films to center gay teen experience — released during the AIDS crisis when queer stories were being actively suppressed.
Director Bressan died of AIDS-related complications in 1987; this and 'Buddies' (1985) remain his barely-seen legacy.
US
