Big Eden (2000)

Big Eden is a small, fictional northwestern Montana town.

Director:

Thomas Bezucha

Writer:

Thomas Bezucha

Stars:

Arye Gross, Eric Schweig, Tim DeKay

9 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Arye Gross	...	Henry Hart
Eric Schweig	...	Pike Dexter
Tim DeKay	...	Dean Stewart
Louise Fletcher	...	Grace Cornwell
George Coe	...	Sam Hart
Nan Martin	...	Widow Thayer
O'Neal Compton	...	Jim Soams
Corinne Bohrer	...	Anna Rudolph
Veanne Cox	...	Mary Margaret Bishop
Douglas Sebern	...	John Cornwell
Parker Livingston	...	Andrew Stewart
Cody Wayne	...	Ben Stewart
Josie Adams	...	Becky Rudolph
Mark Twogood	...	Lloyd
Christopher Kendra	...	Bird

Storyline

Big Eden is a tiny fictional town in northwestern Montana, as Preston Sturges or Frank Capra might have envisioned it. Timber and Cowboy country. This is the story of Henry Hart, a successful New York Artist, who returns to the town of his childhood to care for the ailing grandfather who raised him. Back in Big Eden, Henry must come to terms with his relationship to Dean Stewart, his best friend from high School, as well as the object of his unrequited love. All these years Henry has been pining for a dream image of Dean from back then. This is also the story of Pike Dexter, the shy, unassuming Native American owner of the town's general store, who is as surprised as anyone to find himself falling in love with Henry. The people of Big Eden conspire and attempt to bring Henry and Pike together.

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Plot Keywords:

montana | artist | store | new york | unrequited love | 

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Taglines:

A Small Miracle

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some mature thematic material

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 April 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Big Eden - Un petit miracle

Filming Locations:

Apgar Village, Montana, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$26,198 (USA) (15 June 2001)

Gross:

$503,796 (USA) (26 October 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Chaiken Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min 117 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Jim Soams: There's so few nice surprises in life. Seems to me that it'd be kind of a shame to squander one of them, don't ya think?

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Connections

References Casablanca (1942)

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Soundtracks

"Something About What Happens When We Talk"
Written by Lucinda Williams
Performed by Lucinda Williams
Courtesy of Elektra Entertainment
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

Not just another gay movie, but a great romance and drama

This was a great movie. It was beautifully shot, showing a northern-ish small mountain town throughout several seasons (it reminded me of Northern Exposure more than once). The plot is by far one of the most realistic and engaging of the many gay movies I have watched. It isn't as agenda-driven as many of the gay films being made these days; it was first and foremost a beautiful story about accepting yourself as an adult, navigating complicated family relationships, and finding/nurturing/accepting relationships that are good for you rather than chasing after pointless fantasies of romance. Even my very-straight-husband loved it (and teared up at the end when the protagonist finally picks the right guy!). It was a great story. The acting is very impressive too. I would absolutely recommend it to both gay and straight audiences.