THE LAWLESS HEART

LAWLESS HEART is a movie told from three points of view in the tradition of the great 1950 Japanese movie, RASHOMON; except that LAWLESS HEART is not concerned with moral virtue, but sexual sin. Each of the three intersecting stories tell something about a person whose life is affected by the death of a homosexual restaurateur. Dan is a farmer with a family, who is stuck in a midlife crisis. Nick is the homosexual lover of his dead partner, Stuart. Tim is the aging hippie who has come home to the funeral.

Dan’s point of view is the first presented. At the funeral of his wife’s homosexual brother, Stuart, a middle-aged woman named Corrine tries to pick him up. Corrine tells him he needs courage. Eventually, he picks up another woman in his car, and she gives him oral sex in payment for a ride. His story is very depressing.

The late Stuart called his lover Nick “Old Nick, or Lucifer, or Lucy.” From the movie’s point of view, he seems like a nice guy. He ends up having an affair with Charlie, who happens to be a woman.

Tim has come back home to the funeral of his friend, Stuart. He starts to have an affair with a young woman in town, only to find out that she really loves his brother.

There is no God in this movie, no hope, and no joy. There are several scenes of fornication. Even the heterosexual men seem to be homosexual, and the women seem to have no moral values whatsoever. Many of the characters seem to have nothing in common except that they live in the same small town. Also, Tim’s parents have no discernable relationship with him.

These people live on the Isle of Man, but it could be called the Isle of Fallen Men and Women. LAWLESS HEART is a sad story about what happens to people who are adrift in their sins. Somewhat appropriately, it has received good reviews from those who have cast values, ethics and real love to the wind.