C.R.A.Z.Y. (or, W.H.Y. A.R.E. W.E. W.R.I.T.I.N.G. L.I.K.E. T.H.I.S?)

On December 25th 1960, in a hospital in Quebec, Zac Beaulieu is born into a family of three brothers. His brothers label him “the fairy”, his mother labels him as “sensitive”, and his father pegs him as “the musician”, the favourite son who shares his great love of music. Eventually though, Zac is given the role of faith healer by the local Tupperware lady after his mother notices his uncanny ability to calm his newborn brother, Yves.

As is the nature of youth, Zac rails against all of these identities and seeks only to be himself. This brings him into conflict with his father and it is this relationship that forms the beating heart of Jean-Marc Vallée’s film. “C.R.A.Z.Y.” manages to capture the awe Zac holds for his father and the heartbreak that follows when he cannot live up to his father’s ideal. Zac’s battle for his father’s acceptance is a journey of self discovery and leads us through Dusty Springfield, Bruce Lee, The Stones, Pink Floyd, Bowie and The Cure, through girls and drugs and boys, a veritable smorgasbord of cultural zeitgeists.

The religious overtones are sure to draw parallels to Ken Russell’s film version of The Who’s “Tommy” but, with its emotions worn so heavily on its sleeve and its sense of childhood wonder and imagination, I would have to say that a better messiah flick hasn’t been filmed since “E.T.” (note the propensity for abbreviated titles!).

All round the performances are heartfelt and genuinely moving. Vallée brings true affection and sly comedy to the Beaulieu family’s lives but it is the little things that make father/son relationships tick are most beautifully rendered. The film’s biggest downfall is that it overreaches. Amidst the comments on parents and brothers, drug abuse, sexuality and divinity, the film never finds the time to conclusively say anything; these issues are simply treated as regular facets of the Beaulieu household. Yes, it is refreshing to see a film tackle a “coming out” story without the serious pointedness of an “issues” film but when the film is concluded by convenient circumstance rather than satisfying character growth the audience may feel cheated.

Quebecois films are a relatively unknown quantity on the international film market but “C.R.A.Z.Y.”, which has already garnered an impressive number of local awards and an extremely loyal fan base, should change that. Yes, it a little unfocussed and it can tend towards self-conscious camera trickery at times but the characters are so engaging that it is hard to imagine anyone not finding something to like here. “C.R.A.Z.Y.” will undoubtedly strike a chord with the fathers, sons, mothers, girlfriends, gay boys and perhaps even the messiahs of this world. Recommended.

Tags: movie review, queer film, gay