Best little film ever made

pyotr-3

Unbelievably wonderful performances by all the main actors in "Big Eden" make for one of the best movies I have ever seen.

Arye Gross plays Henry, a New Yorker who returns home to the rural West when to take care of his ailing grandfather. There he runs into his old friend Dean (played by the irresistible Tim DeKay), seemingly bisexual but it turns out he is straight, who is now divorced, with 2 children. The old fascination with Dean is rekindled - but meanwhile another man from his past, Pike (played with amazing depth and dignity by Eric Schweig), a Native American, is smitten with Henry.

Henry is no cook, so he arranges for the Widow Thayer - played by Nan Martin in the most delightfully memorable manner - to cook meals for he and his ailing grandfather Sam (the wonderful George Coe). Widow Thayer's meals are horrible (famously horrible) so Pike starts to cook Henry & Sam's meals himself without telling them. He is totally in love with Henry, but can't work up the nerve to let him know so. He just pours his love into the meals that he prepares.

Will Henry & Pike get together? Or will Henry remain smitten with Dean? This delightful film doesn't let you know until the end.

One of the most beautiful scenes I have ever seen in a film takes place in this film: Pike sees a painting that Henry did of stars at night. He then tells a story from his tribe about children who floated up into the sky and became stars. I won't attempt to tell the story here, but I assure you that this one story is one of the most beautiful things you will ever hear or see. It applies perfectly to Henry's situation, but it is a story that anyone can relate to and learn from.

"Big Eden" is simple yet elegant. It is country yet universal. It is "Andy of Mayberry" for the modern era, a microcosm of how the world ought to be. So stunningly beautiful that you will want to watch it over and over and over again.

Bravo! to everyone associated with this loving, magnificent film!

score 10/10

pyotr-3 7 November 2004

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw0958246/