With Frameline opening tonight at the Castro Theatre, we're departing from our usual format for a review of tonight's opening film.
When Frameline, San Francisco's annual, iconic LGBT film festival, commences tonight at the Castro Theatre, viewers will see a side of star James Franco and Star Trek's Zachary Quinto that they've never seen before.
Justin Kelly's "I Am Michael" tells the true life story of former Castro resident Michael Glatze, a once prominent gay activist who renounced his homosexuality and became a born again Christian pastor. Franco is magnificent as Glatze, a young man who is clearly torn between his conflicting gay and Christian identities. Both identities are part of who he is. Neither lifestyle is tolerant of the other.
Quinto, an openly gay actor, is equally fine as Bennett, Glatze's former boyfriend.
As the film opens Glatze is working at XY, a magazine for gay youth. Matthew Shepard has just been murdered and Glatze is furious, rallying the troops against the injustice. Glatze's transformation to Christianity begins after a health scare involving heart palpitations. Slowly but surely, he begins his exploration of Christianity while questioning the validity of the gay life he's been leading.
Both stars are superb in conveying the anguish each character feels. Glatze knows that he has to let Bennett go, yet continues calling Bennett years after they split. Even though he comes to believe that homosexuality is a sin, its obvious that Glatze still loves his former boyfriend.
Quinto is heartbroken over the loss of their relationship. His sadness turns to rage when Glatze begins publishing blogs and essays renouncing his past life—this is particularly upsetting to Bennett as Glatze was once considered a role model for gay kids. "Why are you hurting people?' Bennett asks Glatze.
Michael Glatze's story is not an isolated incident. In the late 1980s, Joseph Sciambra came to the Castro at age 18 and embraced the gay life. He became involved in BDSM porn, appearing in a number of cheaply produced videos. As he recounts at his website, Sciambra also dabbled in paganism and Satanic worship.
Now a devout Catholic, Sciambra dedicates much of his ministry work towards condemning homosexuality and decrying the evils of porn. He urges people not to watch porn or to become involved in the adult film industry. He often posts memorial tributes to gay porn stars who have either taken their own lives or were lost to addiction and/or HIV. Sciambra's autobiography, Swallowed by Satan, is available on his website.
"I Am Michael" is a riveting, disturbing and yet mesmerizing look at religious redemption and religious extremism. It's a bizarre tale that seems even stranger because its true. Beautifully shot in a variety of locations, including the Castro, the film might be Franco's best shot yet at winning an Oscar. His performance of the transformation from an out and proud gay man to a conservative Christian is heartwrenching, and Franco lets viewers feel the inner turmoil and tug of war that Glatze was feeling.
Is there a lesson to be learned from the strange tales of Michael Glatze and Joseph Sciambra? Both of these former Castro residents are now living lives that they say are authentic to who they really are. Are they deluding themselves, or are they being as true to themselves as any of the gay men who live, work and play in the Castro today? Only Glatze and Sciambra know for sure.
Frameline screens "I Am Michael" tonight at the Castro Theatre at 7pm. Tickets are still available at the door. Browse the full Frameline film lineup here.
