Because so many religions have condemned homosexuality for millennia, it’s no small accomplishment that the absorbing and wrenching “Save Me” views a dedicated homophobe with compassion and understanding.
This is a modest, thoughtful, independent production of exceptional insight and quietly devastating power.
“This is a Christian recovery program speaking to sexual brokenness,” explains Gayle (Judith Light), a woman of force and certitude, who with her wiser, less-certain husband, Ted (Stephen Lang), runs a retreat for young gay men trying to go straight and overcome substance abuse.
Gayle is speaking to Mark (Chad Allen), who has just come off an extended sex-and- drug orgy. Mark is skeptical and resistant but begins to respond to Gayle’s strict but caring regimen. He also begins to form a friendship with Scott (Robert Gant), a husky, amiable guy who’s been at the retreat for five months.
Director Robert Cary could scarcely have gotten more out of his actors, working from a script that provides succinct yet revealing back stories for the film’s five principals.
Light is remarkable, with her Gayle emerging as a gifted spiritual substance-abuse healer who is tragically wrongheaded as an aversion therapist. Her costars are equally impressive, as is Robert Baker as a lonely, overweight youth at once too intelligent and too vulnerable for such a regimented environment.
“Save Me” is an impressive achievement in all aspects but one: It is weighed down, but thankfully not sunk, by a trite, syrupy score.
“Save Me”
Not rated but contains adult content. 1 hour, 36 minutes. Directed by Robert Cary; written by Alan Hines, Craig Chester and Robert Desiderio; starring Chad Allen, Robert Gant, Judith Light, Stephen Lang. Opens today at Starz FilmCenter.
