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Friday
29Aug2008

Movie Review - 'Chris & Don: A Love Story'

DateFriday, August 29, 2008 at 12:19AM
Chris & Don: A Love Story

Featuring Christopher Isherwood, Don Bachardy, and Michael York
Directed by Guido Santi and Tina Mascara
Not Rated


chrisdonposter.jpg Love comes in many forms, but a lifelong love like this is rare for a number of reasons. It does no good to talk about Chris & Don: A Love Story without acknowledging that when their relationship began, English writer Christopher Isherwood was in his late forties and Don Bachardy was 18. Or so.

Once you get over whatever feelings that causes, this new documentary unfolds fairly amiably. Isherwood’s writing made him a sort of celebrity in the Golden Age of Hollywood, which was also the Dark Ages of Hollywood Homosexuality. Very few important members of the entertainment industry were out of the closet then, and to prove he was, Isherwood would spend the next 40 years or so with a lover more than young enough to be his son. In a lot of ways, the elder Isherwood played father to Bachardy, encouraging his painting and artistic endeavors, which would become Don’s livelihood.

Chris & Don plays like a fond memorial service, and perhaps that’s the target for directors Guido Santi and Tina Mascara. The relationship had its ups and downs, and Isherwood at one point allowed Bachardy to stray, although the connection to his much older lover proved too strong, especially when Isherwood developed cancer.

I must confess I had never heard of Isherwood or Bachardy, not that it's a requirement. Between the age difference, the secrecy with which other homosexuals carried out their affairs in the middle of the 20th Century, and with all the change any one person goes through during a lifetime – much less two people – that we have the ending we have is something of an accomplish itself.

Ultimately, however, I think that might be a bit of a problem for this movie. I found Chris & Don to be interesting to watch, more interesting to look at, and slightly less interesting the more it was about its main characters. Visually, however, there's plenty to like here, including some clever animated sequences based on Bachardy's own drawings, and loads of helpful archival footage. Perhaps a better title would be A Love Story: Chris & Don, because in my mind, the story is stands out more than its characters.

AuthorColin Boyd | | in , | Print ArticlePrint Article | | Comment2 Comments |

Reader Comments (2)

Well, anal intercourse is extremely overrated. I've only tried it on women but I wouldn't think it's a lot better on men. To the contrary. So I have a hard time thinking what this film would do except fuel the old sex for money argument.

Friday, August 29, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterLengthy Johnson

Perhaps you didn't like being the top, buddy. But oh my god, the wonders of taking one up the chute is well, amazing!

Sunday, November 16, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterJDC

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