Latter Days

Aaron, a young Mormon sent to Los Angeles on his mission, meets Christian, who lives in the same building and whose life is a continuous party. Christian bets his friends he can seduce the boy. Then it goes somewhere neither of them expected. C. Jay Cox opens as romantic comedy and hardens in the second half; once Aaron's family and the church intervene, the story attaches to conversion therapy and to being cast out. The director was raised Mormon and it shows in the detail of the church sections. On release it had distribution problems in some countries and chains. The template is familiar and, given the subject, the film was rare. Who it is for: viewers who like gay romantic drama and conflicts between faith and identity. Who it is not for: anyone expecting a light romantic comedy, since the second half changes entirely.