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Wild About Harry

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This movie is currently playing at film festivals.

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Synopsis

A stylishly executed, ‘70s-based period piece, Wild About Harry follows two teenaged sisters as they attempt to come to terms with their semi-closeted father’s homosexuality and their community’s disapproval.

Review

Coping with their mother’s death, straight-laced Madeline, her jovial sister Daisy and their devoted father Harry move to a gorgeous seaside home in Cape Cod during the autumn of 1973. Harry plans to sell American primitive furniture while the girls acclimate themselves to their new school. Things are complicated with the arrival of Harry's attractive new "business" partner Mr. Gibbs. During a night out, the girls visit the Atlantic House, Provincetown's historic gay bar. There, Madeline spots her father dancing with Gibbs. Confused and resentful, Maddie seeks comfort in a popular boy who isn't adept at keeping secrets. As their seemingly friendly community becomes a town without pity, Harry and Gibbs, previously Cape Cod's most eligible new bachelors, are transformed into social pariahs. Making her feature debut, theater director Gwen Wynne fills the film with colorful costumes, a rockin' '70s soundtrack, and a varied ensemble of performers. Examining hardships faced by gay parents, even shortly after the progressive movements of the 1960s, this is a touching drama that celebrates the importance of accepting family members exactly as they are.

-- Robert O'Neill

Keywords

Adolescence, Coming Out, Converting Straight Men, Death/Grieving, Drama, Family Life, Friendship, Gay Male, Gay/Lesbian, Historical Fiction, Parenting, Rural Life/Country

Genres

Drama

Customer Reviews

aka "American Primitive"

Amos Lassen wrote on 07/28/2010:

“Wild About Harry”
Aka “American Primitive”
Amos Lassen
Set in 1973, widower Harry (Tate Donovan) has recently moved to Cape Cod with his two girls Madeline (Danielle Savre) and Daisy (Skye McCole Bartusiak). Madeline wants to be popular and begins dating the class hunk (Corey Sevier) even though he has a girlfriend. Daisy is an introvert and Harry takes up with Mr. Gibbs (Adam Pascal). Harry and Mr. Gibb’s “secret” is revealed to the Cape Codders and they were ostracized by the people who “are”. They also allowed Harry’s in-laws to the picture and they demanded custody of the girls. The film is written and directed by women—Gwen Wynne and Mary Beth Fielder and the story is told by Harry’s daughters and how they deal with their father’s “problem”. We really never learn enough about Harry or his sexuality or his relationship with Mr. Gibbs. It would have helped if we knew more about him and perhaps understand him better.
The performances are excellent and the direction is good but the problem is that it is a bit dated. I realized right away that it was from the viewpoint of the straight daughter. The theme that families of all kinds are valid was the best part. I wish that there had been more understanding of the gay characters, particularly in the era that the film was set. The gay characters seemed dim-witted and incompetent of detailed conversation. Perhaps that's the way they were supposed to appear. I wish the daughter who was the poet had more lines. She was terrific.