Charley (Giovanni Adrade) is turning 15. For the past year, since his mother's (Pam Munter) death, he has lived in Seaside, Oregon, with his stern military-man father (Ron Upton). During one grim Christmas break Charley meets Eban (Brent Fellows), a young-looking 29-year-old teacher, home for the holidays to see his parents after being driven from Seattle by a controversy at the school where he taught. They have things in common: both sign (Charley's mother was deaf), both play the guitar, and both are gay. As their relationship deepens during walks on the beach, singing, and talk of poetry, we see it from their point of view and also from the points of view of both of their fathers. Eban acts with complete reserve and restraint, while Charley makes the first move and proclaims that age shouldn't matter if they love each other. "What if there's nothing wrong with me?" Eban asks about an hour or so into the film. Charley's loneliness gives way to happiness when he's with Eban. When their friendship deepens into intimacy, both of their families condemn it and threaten to call the police. With tensions high, and the stakes even higher, Eban and Charley face the most dangerous decision of all, and the two have to deal with the legal and social ramifications of the relationship.
This earnest underdramatized movie depicts an affair between a 15-year-old and a 29-year-old. The actors give naturalistic performances that some viewers might find tedious and others may find refreshing. It's a good film, restrained, careful, and provocative, with pacing problems and some awkward line readings. The message is ambiguous. Is a 15-year old capable of giving consent to an intimate relationship with an adult? Should we see Eban as a dangerous predator and criminal pervert? Some of the dialogue is a bit too preachy and stagy, and some scenes seem a bit too melodramatic and contrived. Stephin Merritt of indie-pop band Magnetic Fields composed the original music. James Bolton wrote the screenplay and directed,
