By: Austin Winter-Chase

Sometimes it’s very hard for us to face who we are along with  the fact that we all deserve and our own right to be happy. Sometimes you have to go home to find happiness and acceptance, but most importantly to find yourself and to heal.

“Big Eden” is a uniquely American fable about home and family. It hits upon the universal longing and hope we each have for finding a place where we are loved, and the unconditional desire to see those that we love find happiness.

One of the most beloved gay films of all time, Tom Bezucha’s Big Eden has been newly restored to HD with a fresh digital transfer from the original 35mm negative just in time for the film’s 15th anniversary. Appearing on scads of top LGBT movie lists since its wildly popular debut in 2000, “Big Eden” stars Arye Gross as Henry Hart, a thirty-something gay artist living in New York City who returns to his Montana hometown of “Big Eden” to visit his ailing grandfather, Sam (George Coe). Henry has never actually come out to Grandpa Sam, and as he grapples with his own process of self-acceptance he also continues to pine over handsome Dean Stewart, his straight crush from high school (Tim DeKay, “White Collar”). As the town’s general store proprietor Pike Dexter (Eric Schweig, “Blackstone”) begins to fall for Henry, the people of “Big Eden” rise to the occasion to play cupid. A truly visionary film, Big Eden features a tremendous supporting cast including Academy Award winner Louise Fletcher as the town schoolteacher Grace, and such esteemed character actors as Nan Martin, O’Neal Compton, Corinne Bohr and Veanne Cox. “Big Eden” took home Best Film awards from all of the top LGBT film festivals including Outfest and Frameline, as well as being nominated for the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Film in Limited Release. This collector’s edition Blu-ray includes an amazing 21-minute bonus feature, “Remembering Big Eden” which features intimate interviews with the film’s cast and crew reflecting on the “Big Eden’s” legacy and impact as well as sharing their memories of the production and release. Sometimes it’s very hard for us to face who we are along with that we all deserve and our own right to be happy. Sometimes you have to go home to find happiness and acceptance.

“Big Eden” is a wonderful and charming film that is a must see for all.With all the unrest and discrimination against the LGBT community “Big Eden” shows that acceptance and love goes a long way to changing the perceptions and views of people and hopefully society. “Big Eden” 15th Anniversary edition was release 10/13 on Blue-ray and VOD via Wolfe Video and many major retailers, and across all digital platforms including iTunes, Vimeo On Demand, and WolfeOnDemand.com.

For more information about “Big Eden” and to follow the film go here.

 

Big Eden 118 min

Director: Thomas Bezucha

Writer: Thomas Bezucha