Boy Erased

I was Garrard Conley's philosophy professor. He began taking classes with me a few months after his experience at the gay conversion "camp." He took my two-semester class in the "Western Intellectual Tradition" and then took four more classes on Greek tragedy and Aristotle, Plato, and Recent Scholarship on Plato. I took Garrard to New York City. We went to Greenwich Village and ate at the Stonewall Cafe. He loved New York, "This is my city, Dr. Beck," he said, before we even got to the official city limits. While at the cafe, he was surprised when first the waiter "hit on me" and then the piano player. I said, "Well, Garrard, you're cute. Why wouldn't they?" He was really happy. We were both preacher's kids. We compared our parents to the characters in Greek tragedies: they all had good intentions and made mistakes. I tried to be the older mentor and to encourage him to learn to forgive (one of Aristotle's virtues). After Lyon, I recommended him for the Peace Corps in Ukraine. He stayed an extra year and started a non-profit that educated people about AIDS. Ten years after graduating, he returned to receive our "Ten Year Award." I asked him if he intended for the book and the movie to portray his parents a well-intentioned but tragic characters. "Of course, Dr. Beck," he replied. When I saw the movie, the scene where his mother finally started questioning the credentials of the leader was the point at which I started to weep. Garrard has also worked hard on four podcasts called "Boy Unerased." They are named after all the tragic characters connected to these "camps." "Garrard and the Book of Job," "The Motherbears" (women like his mother who were conservative Christians, had gay kids, and changed their minds), "Dr. Davis," about a psychology professor at USC who changed his mind, and "Schmid," the guy who ran the camp who is gay and also changed his mind. Garrard has tried so hard to use his experience to create a bond of empathy between people who can so easily get polarized, especially on this issue. He wants all of us to recognize ourselves in these characters: all parents have good intentions for their children, they all make sacrifices so that they children can have a better life, and they all make mistakes, sometimes really serious ones, in the pursuit of that goal. I hope people who see the movie and read the book will use the story to understand what Southern Baptist parents in rural Arkansas have in common with parents in big cities around the world. The first step to authoritarianism is the polarization of the citizens. When the citizens cannot get along, an authoritarian personality claims he has to take control. We need to avoid this (or avoid making it worse). It was my privilege to have Garrard as a student. I hope we keep this message in our minds and hearts moving forward into the next election and beyond.

I grew up in the 60's and 70's. I was surrounded by homophobia basically my whole life.I thank God above, I had the strength and sense, NOT to listen to people telling me I was wrong and NOT change who I am.This film is poignant, thoughtful and infuriating at the same time.The lengths straight people will do to make themselves feel better and safe.Excellent film and worth the investment.Be still my beating heart. Joel Edgerton is brilliant.

The kudos must begin with the bravery of Garrard Conley for opeining up and sharing some very private moments and feelings in his memoir, "Boy Erased". Then HUGE props to Joel Edgerton for becoming so impassioned with the project to write a screenplay, produce, direct, AND act in a movie version of Garrard's story. Nicole Kidman cements her status as a Class-A actress in this role. Russell Crowe (of whom I am not usually a fan) literally transformed into Garrard's father. Some fun appearances by Troye Sivan, Xavier Dolan, and Flea (yes, THAT Flea!). And last, but not least, is the emotional lead performance by Lucas Hedges who captured all of the nuanced feelings one goes through on this particular journey.My prayer is that with the high profile status of this film that everyone will finally see the sad and distored reality of "Conversion Therapy" which unfortunately IS alive and kicking in the U.S.A.At times, this film was personally difficult to watch as it brought back MANY memories of self-hatred, embarrassment, praying/fasting to change, feelings of letting down my family...my church...my God. But fear not! As in my life, this story too has a happy ending as Jared comes to peace with his identity."Boy Erased" is a testament to one's inner strength.....the unconditional love of a mother...and the hope that family bonds CAN be stronger than any other. The film gracefully portrays a set of parents who unknowingly (perhaps somewhat ignorantly) send their son for "help" out of the best intentions. But as the saying goes, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions".Sadly, not every story ends as happily as mine and Garrard's.....so until that day comes, films and memoirs, and stories like this remain so VERY important to share!

Didn’t know what to expect. Political movie kinda sorta. Have seen much better acting, directing, seem much better from Russell!! 3 is too much. Glad I bought it used.Thanks

The acting performances of the four major players were superb and very realistic. The story is one that has been happening, in various ways for hundreds of years and is still happening due to the ignorance of the various churches and their teachings. You cannot turn a homosexual into a heterosexual any more than you can turn a heterosexual into a homosexual. That is an absolute fact. The torment and punishments inflicted upon the unfortunate gay person are, to say the least, barbaric and may cause a mental illness that may lead to suicide, and the victim is sometimes the son of a 'so-called' man of the faith, or a God fearing adherent of a particular religion. this story is a very sad one, but not as sad as the real life stories, some of which I have been witness to. I can't say I 'enjoyed' this film, but I was incredibly moved to tears by it, and I would recommend it to every parent and every person involved in any religion. The pain and mental torment inflicted upon a 'victim' in one of these circumstances is downright hateful.

It was an alright movie, it’s a type of movie you only watch once.

The movie was fantastic, I loved it so much, even made me cry

Superb movie which emphatically shows some of the trauma the conversion therapy advocates cause and remember this is only one case. It is well done and the performances of the lead actors is exceedingly good. A number of friends have seen the movie and everyone agrees it is well worth viewing and on more than one occasion as other things become evident each time it is viewed. A well worth purchase.

Quite an emotive movie, highlighting the harmful practices LGBTQIA+ youth are exposed to, due to prejudices that exist in society.

This movie really touched me. I felt so sorry for the teenage male lead in the story being sent to gay conversion therapy. Great performances by the male teenage lead as well as great acting by Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe and Joel Edgerton.

I liked this movie and the cast were great.But I do feel that what 'Jared' went through was horrible, but was the tip of a very nasty nasty iceberg.How can a parent put thier kid put them into one of these 'programs'. LGBTQ kids derserve better.

The film treats an important subject but the overall impact I found somewhat disappointing. Lucas Hedges is excellent in the role of the boy whose parents send him to a gay conversion centre, as is Nicole Kidman as his mother, but minor characters are sketchily treated. Troye Sivan's character, for instance, deserved a higher profile. Also detracting from the impact is the unaccountably low lighting of many of the scenes.