Author: Evan D.
Location: New York
"Keep The Lights Off"
Directed by: Peter Horton
Adapted by: Peter Horton and Andre Sollie
based on the novel "Noolt gaat dit over" by Andre Sollie
Cinematography: Anton Mertens
Costumes: Hope Hanafin
Art Direction: Troy Sizemore
Editing: Anthony Sherin
Score: Gavin Grusin
Original Songs: The Weepies
CAST
Garrett - Devon Gearhart
Bryce - Nick Krause
Antoinette - Elizabeth Perkins
Stephanie - Annabella Sciorra
Tammy - Liana Liberato
Carl - David Duchovney
Zoltan - Tyler Hoechlin
tag line: "you turned me into somebody loved."
Synopsis
Garrett (Gearhart) had lived In the small oceanside town of Oak Island, North Carolina for all 16 years of his life. His father had walked out on him and his mother shortly after his birth, so Garrett had grown up with only his mother Antoinette (Perkins), a delusional aspiring singer and the town's resident floozy, to guide him. Emotionally abandoned and starving for attention, Garrett spent much of his free time drawing by himself or hanging out with his neighbor and friend Bryce (Krause), who was a couple years older than him. Bryce's sick single mother Stephanie (Sciorra) felt bad for Garrett, and fed him and bought him school supplies and whatever else he needed, letting him stay the night at her house whenever he wished. Bryce's sister Tammy (Liberato), who was the same age as Garrett, developed a crush on him, of which Garrett was oblivious because of his infatuation with her brother.
Garrett's mother, Antoinette often went on weekend trips with her sleazy car salesman boyfriend (Duchovney) to sing at small town fairs all over the southern US. Thusly, Garrett was alone much of the time. Over the summer before his junior year of high school, he started spending most nights sleeping on the beach in a small tan tent with Bryce. Bryce introduced him to a lot of new things during those long, hot nights under the stars. On Bryce's 18th birthday he bought himself a motorcycle, which him and Garrett fixed up before riding all around their town together. Bryce told Garrett he loved him all the time, and Garrett never thought twice about doing anything and everything he could do to make him happy. Tammy had her suspicions about Garrett because of how often she had made herself available to him, but he still never seemed to notice her. Her suspicions were confirmed when she found one of his drawings that he had left for Bryce, illustrating Bryce naked on the beach. She was sad, but wouldn't tell anyone, fearing what they might do to him or her brother. The summer was long, but the boys had each other, always. However, the newfound freedom that the motorcycle brought Bryce meant that he started spending more and more time in Raleigh at clubs and parties. Since Garrett was still in high school, he couldn't join in, and they grew further and further apart until one day Stephanie told Garrett that Bryce had moved in with a girlfriend that Garrett never even knew he had up in Raleigh.
Garrett hadn't seen Bryce in over a year when Tammy told him that Bryce had gotten engaged to his girlfriend. Garrett was devastated and more lonely than ever, so he was pleased when his mother rented out the spare bedroom in their house to a traveling magician named Zoltan (Hoechlin), who used his good looks and charm to get anything he wanted from Garret's mother (food, drinks, sex). Zoltan and Garrett got along well, and Garrett made plans in his head for running away with him to the circus. One day, though, Garrett received a call from Bryce. It was the first time in over a year that he had heard his voice, and his feelings came rushing back. The two met on the beach to discuss their unresolved issues. Garrett told Bryce of his plans to leave this town with Zoltan, and Bryce, out of jealousy, tried to convince Garrett that he had never loved him, only used him for sex. Garrett punched him and ran home, only to find his mother and Zoltan in bed together. After spending the night sleeping on the beach, He returned home to find his mother had packed a bag and run off with Zoltan to spend the fall and winter performing in a traveling circus. It wasn't the first time he'd been left for long periods of time by his mother, but this time felt different. More of her possessions were gone, and Garrett wasn't convinced that she was going to come back this time. Stephanie had Garrett move into Bryce's now empty room permanently, and despite the cold shoulder he got every time he tried to speak with Tammy, things were going well. However, they took a bad turn when Stephanie's health began to quickly deteriorate. She was soon hospitalized and Tammy was told she didn't have long to live. Bryce returned home to be with his mother, whose final action before she passed was to take her son's hand in her right hand, and Garrett's in her left, and put them together.
Bryce went back to live with his fiance, and Tammy left high school to take a job at a local supermarket. Tammy and Garrett now lived together in the house, and began to mend their relationship after Garrett finally told her he was gay. One rainy saturday, while Tammy was at work, Bryce stormed into the house looking for Garrett. Bryce pushed him against a wall, and Garrett thought he was going to punch him. Instead, he just looked at, no, into his eyes. Garrett told him that he waited for him. Bryce said that he was sorr. "Stay" is all that Garrett says before the two embrace.
Press Section
Coming of age films are always difficult to get right. Some are too sappy, some are too childish, and some are just plain badly written. None of these are the case with "Keep The Lights Off" a genuinely touching film about a lonely boy finding someone he connects with, and never giving up on that love. Based off of a dutch novel which was turned into a dutch film, "Keep The Lights Off" is a sentimental and beautiful story about the fluidity of male sexuality among some teenagers. Garrett has no father, and his mother cares more about her "career," and her drinks then about giving him a loving home. Constantly on his own, Garrett goes into himself and is able to know himself a lot better than the popular jock next door, Bryce, who is still struggling with his sexuality. The film shows the love that Garrett feels for Bryce, and how Bryce pretends for much of the film not to want the emotional connection that they both crave, letting on only that he is interested in sex with Garrett. Stuffed to the brim with fantastic performances from it's eclectic cast, Writer and Director Peter Horton ("The Cure") has crafted a realistic but somehow magical little world in Oak Island, North Carolina. Devon Gearhart ("Funny Games") plays the introverted, love-struck Garrett, and is phenomenal. His eyes are true windows to his longing, his intellect, and his pain. Nick Krause ("The Descendants") gives a fantastic performance as the masculine, confused, and sometimes unwittingly hurtful Bryce. Krause shows how effective he can be at making an unlikeable character on paper someone that you hope does the right thing. The supporting cast surrounding the two male leads is filled with great performances by some very good actresses. Elizabeth Perkins plays Garret's mother Antoinette, who cares so little for her sons happiness that she leaves him, just like his father had. Perkins is deliciously mea-nspirited and flighty, and it's great fun to watch. Annabella Sciorra (Peter Horton's "The Cure") plays Bryce's mother, who is very sick and dying from an unnamed disease. Sciorra's Stephanie is quiet, sweet, and like a second mother to Garrett. Liana Liberato ("Trust") does a wonderful job brining Tammy, the jealous but understanding sister of Bryce to life. "Keep The Lights Off" is a gorgeous looking film, and the beautiful score and original songs by folk duo The Weepies tie this romantic coming-of age tale together perfectly. It's a film that can be enjoyed by everyone no matter what your age, race, or sexual orientation. "Keep The Lights Off" is a delicate heart-warmer that explores emerging sexuality and first love with refreshing optimism.
FYC
Best Picture
Best Director
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Actor - Devon Gearhart
Best Supporting Actor - Nick Krause
Best Supporting Actress - Elizabeth Perkins
Best Supporting Actress - Charlotte Gainsbourg
Best Supporting Actress - Liana Liberato
and all categories!
Location: New York
"Keep The Lights Off"
Directed by: Peter Horton
Adapted by: Peter Horton and Andre Sollie
based on the novel "Noolt gaat dit over" by Andre Sollie
Cinematography: Anton Mertens
Costumes: Hope Hanafin
Art Direction: Troy Sizemore
Editing: Anthony Sherin
Score: Gavin Grusin
Original Songs: The Weepies
CAST
Garrett - Devon Gearhart
Bryce - Nick Krause
Antoinette - Elizabeth Perkins
Stephanie - Annabella Sciorra
Tammy - Liana Liberato
Carl - David Duchovney
Zoltan - Tyler Hoechlin
tag line: "you turned me into somebody loved."
Synopsis
Garrett (Gearhart) had lived In the small oceanside town of Oak Island, North Carolina for all 16 years of his life. His father had walked out on him and his mother shortly after his birth, so Garrett had grown up with only his mother Antoinette (Perkins), a delusional aspiring singer and the town's resident floozy, to guide him. Emotionally abandoned and starving for attention, Garrett spent much of his free time drawing by himself or hanging out with his neighbor and friend Bryce (Krause), who was a couple years older than him. Bryce's sick single mother Stephanie (Sciorra) felt bad for Garrett, and fed him and bought him school supplies and whatever else he needed, letting him stay the night at her house whenever he wished. Bryce's sister Tammy (Liberato), who was the same age as Garrett, developed a crush on him, of which Garrett was oblivious because of his infatuation with her brother.
Garrett's mother, Antoinette often went on weekend trips with her sleazy car salesman boyfriend (Duchovney) to sing at small town fairs all over the southern US. Thusly, Garrett was alone much of the time. Over the summer before his junior year of high school, he started spending most nights sleeping on the beach in a small tan tent with Bryce. Bryce introduced him to a lot of new things during those long, hot nights under the stars. On Bryce's 18th birthday he bought himself a motorcycle, which him and Garrett fixed up before riding all around their town together. Bryce told Garrett he loved him all the time, and Garrett never thought twice about doing anything and everything he could do to make him happy. Tammy had her suspicions about Garrett because of how often she had made herself available to him, but he still never seemed to notice her. Her suspicions were confirmed when she found one of his drawings that he had left for Bryce, illustrating Bryce naked on the beach. She was sad, but wouldn't tell anyone, fearing what they might do to him or her brother. The summer was long, but the boys had each other, always. However, the newfound freedom that the motorcycle brought Bryce meant that he started spending more and more time in Raleigh at clubs and parties. Since Garrett was still in high school, he couldn't join in, and they grew further and further apart until one day Stephanie told Garrett that Bryce had moved in with a girlfriend that Garrett never even knew he had up in Raleigh.
Garrett hadn't seen Bryce in over a year when Tammy told him that Bryce had gotten engaged to his girlfriend. Garrett was devastated and more lonely than ever, so he was pleased when his mother rented out the spare bedroom in their house to a traveling magician named Zoltan (Hoechlin), who used his good looks and charm to get anything he wanted from Garret's mother (food, drinks, sex). Zoltan and Garrett got along well, and Garrett made plans in his head for running away with him to the circus. One day, though, Garrett received a call from Bryce. It was the first time in over a year that he had heard his voice, and his feelings came rushing back. The two met on the beach to discuss their unresolved issues. Garrett told Bryce of his plans to leave this town with Zoltan, and Bryce, out of jealousy, tried to convince Garrett that he had never loved him, only used him for sex. Garrett punched him and ran home, only to find his mother and Zoltan in bed together. After spending the night sleeping on the beach, He returned home to find his mother had packed a bag and run off with Zoltan to spend the fall and winter performing in a traveling circus. It wasn't the first time he'd been left for long periods of time by his mother, but this time felt different. More of her possessions were gone, and Garrett wasn't convinced that she was going to come back this time. Stephanie had Garrett move into Bryce's now empty room permanently, and despite the cold shoulder he got every time he tried to speak with Tammy, things were going well. However, they took a bad turn when Stephanie's health began to quickly deteriorate. She was soon hospitalized and Tammy was told she didn't have long to live. Bryce returned home to be with his mother, whose final action before she passed was to take her son's hand in her right hand, and Garrett's in her left, and put them together.
Bryce went back to live with his fiance, and Tammy left high school to take a job at a local supermarket. Tammy and Garrett now lived together in the house, and began to mend their relationship after Garrett finally told her he was gay. One rainy saturday, while Tammy was at work, Bryce stormed into the house looking for Garrett. Bryce pushed him against a wall, and Garrett thought he was going to punch him. Instead, he just looked at, no, into his eyes. Garrett told him that he waited for him. Bryce said that he was sorr. "Stay" is all that Garrett says before the two embrace.
Press Section
Coming of age films are always difficult to get right. Some are too sappy, some are too childish, and some are just plain badly written. None of these are the case with "Keep The Lights Off" a genuinely touching film about a lonely boy finding someone he connects with, and never giving up on that love. Based off of a dutch novel which was turned into a dutch film, "Keep The Lights Off" is a sentimental and beautiful story about the fluidity of male sexuality among some teenagers. Garrett has no father, and his mother cares more about her "career," and her drinks then about giving him a loving home. Constantly on his own, Garrett goes into himself and is able to know himself a lot better than the popular jock next door, Bryce, who is still struggling with his sexuality. The film shows the love that Garrett feels for Bryce, and how Bryce pretends for much of the film not to want the emotional connection that they both crave, letting on only that he is interested in sex with Garrett. Stuffed to the brim with fantastic performances from it's eclectic cast, Writer and Director Peter Horton ("The Cure") has crafted a realistic but somehow magical little world in Oak Island, North Carolina. Devon Gearhart ("Funny Games") plays the introverted, love-struck Garrett, and is phenomenal. His eyes are true windows to his longing, his intellect, and his pain. Nick Krause ("The Descendants") gives a fantastic performance as the masculine, confused, and sometimes unwittingly hurtful Bryce. Krause shows how effective he can be at making an unlikeable character on paper someone that you hope does the right thing. The supporting cast surrounding the two male leads is filled with great performances by some very good actresses. Elizabeth Perkins plays Garret's mother Antoinette, who cares so little for her sons happiness that she leaves him, just like his father had. Perkins is deliciously mea-nspirited and flighty, and it's great fun to watch. Annabella Sciorra (Peter Horton's "The Cure") plays Bryce's mother, who is very sick and dying from an unnamed disease. Sciorra's Stephanie is quiet, sweet, and like a second mother to Garrett. Liana Liberato ("Trust") does a wonderful job brining Tammy, the jealous but understanding sister of Bryce to life. "Keep The Lights Off" is a gorgeous looking film, and the beautiful score and original songs by folk duo The Weepies tie this romantic coming-of age tale together perfectly. It's a film that can be enjoyed by everyone no matter what your age, race, or sexual orientation. "Keep The Lights Off" is a delicate heart-warmer that explores emerging sexuality and first love with refreshing optimism.
FYC
Best Picture
Best Director
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Actor - Devon Gearhart
Best Supporting Actor - Nick Krause
Best Supporting Actress - Elizabeth Perkins
Best Supporting Actress - Charlotte Gainsbourg
Best Supporting Actress - Liana Liberato
and all categories!