Shelter (2007) – Gay Independent Film Review
A Gay Dating Flim With Actors Trevor Wright and Brad Rowe
Jun 30, 2009
Written and directed by Jonah Markowitz, Shelter is a gay independent film about a young Californian named Zach (sensitively played by Trevor Wright) who is forced to work a dead-end job to look after his sister and her child, all the while nursing ambitions of attending art school. This remains a pipe-dream until his best friend's brother, Shaun (the commanding Brad Rowe), a wealthy L.A. writer, arrives in town and changes Zach’s life forever.
Jonah Markowitz’s Shelter is a Refreshing Gay Love Story
Zach is not “out” at the beginning of the film. It could be speculated that his latent sexuality has only yet surfaced as a symptom of his on-and-off relationship with caring girlfriend Tori (the understated Katie Walder); to this end, Shelter might be confused with being yet another coming-out tale. This would miss the heart of Jonah Markowtiz’s gay independent film completely however.
Zach is put upon by everyone. His sister, his friends, even his co-workers. Zach’s selflessness is incredibly endearing though, and rather than settling for a standard coming-out story, Shelter uses Zach’s gay identity to show that in meeting Shaun, spending time with him and eventually beginning a very grown-up relationship, Zach is awakened and empowered, turning a cliché into a clever plot device that stumbles only when Zach’s strength falters, ingratiating him to the audience yet further.
Gay Independent Film Shelter Stands Out Due to Trevor Wright and Brad Lowe's Commitment
Staying clear of yet another well travelled cinematic road, Jonah Markowitz wrote Shelter’s central relationship between two recognisably masculine, yet sensitive, gay men who meet and begin to date. In this sense, there was a danger that the two actors cast to service this thematically intelligent script could have under-delivered in terms of performance, or over-compensated by morphing the characters into effeminate parodies.
Indeed, integral to the plot of this gay independent film is the idea that Zach would wholly surrender himself to Shaun. In Shelter this happens a little too quickly, but, this minor compromise aside, the cascade effect that Shaun has on Zach’s life, from his refusal to pander to his sister’s selfish desires, to having the confidence to try for a place at California Arts, is profoundly moving.
Both Trevor Wright and Brad Rowe engage with their characters without flinching from the intimacy and passion required to make the dynamics of the gay relationship in Shelter work, and this elevates Shelter as a gay independent film, so much so that it feels like a quiet landmark, which, as an aside, features some beautiful camera work as the two men surf, and also a well chosen and unobtrusive soundtrack that makes the film a complete package.
Jonah Markowitz’s Shelter is a Deserving Award Winning Gay Independent Film
Winning a slew of awards, from best actor for Trevor Wright at the Dallas OutTakes in 2007 to being awarded Outstanding Film at the Glaad Media Awards, Shelter is emblematic of evolving independent gay films and LGBT cinema, and for that reason Jonah Markowitz’s powerful film is every bit as triumphant as it is feel-good, sporting an ending that, for every single character (and probably every single audience member) is truly rewarding.
Loved Shelter? Here is a list of 7 must see gay themed dramas to enjoy.
- Title: Shelter
- Actors: Brad Rowe, Tina Holmes, Trevor Wright
- Writer/Director: Jonah Markowitz
- Film Release Date: 2007
- DVD Release Date: 11 Aug 2008
- Run Time: 84 minutes
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