Eban and Charley (2000)

After his mother dies, 15-year-old Charley must live with his unloving, bullying father. Out of loneliness, Charley strikes up an illicit romance with 29-year-old Eban. When their families find out, they must make a life-altering decision.

Director:

James Bolton

Writer:

James Bolton

Stars:

Brent Fellows, Gio Black Peter, Ellie Nicholson

1 win.

Cast

Credited cast:
Brent Fellows	...	Eban
Gio Black Peter	...	Charley (as Giovanni Andrade)
Ellie Nicholson	...	Sunshine
Drew Zeller	...	Kevin
Pam Munter	...	Eban's Mother
Ron Upton	...	Eban's Father
Nolan Chard	...	Charley's Father (as Nolan V. Chard)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Deanna Alexich	...	Girlfriend
Kali	...	Coffee Girl
Greg McMickle	...	Cab Driver
Jennifer Utley	...	Record Store Clerk

Storyline

Charley is turning 15. For the past year, since his mother's death, he has lived in Seaside, Oregon, with his stern and unloving father. It's Christmas week when Charley meets Eban, a young-looking 29-year-old teacher from Seattle, home for the holidays to see his parents. They have things in common: both sign (Charley's mother was deaf), both play the guitar, both are gay. As their relationship deepens during walks on the beach, singing, and talk of poetry, we see it from their point of view and also from the points of view of both of their fathers. Charley's loneliness gives way to happiness when he's with Eban. But what of this grown man?

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Plot Keywords:

pederasty | ephebophile | older man younger man relationship | first gay sexual experience | man boy love | 

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Taglines:

Should age really matter if you love someone?

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 June 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Eban & Charley

Filming Locations:

Astoria, Oregon, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,094, 16 December 2001, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$26,114, 27 January 2002

Company Credits

Production Co:

Harcamone Films, Monqui Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

User Reviews

A surprisingly subtle work worthy of a second look.

The film suffers on the big screen, due in part to the tech limitations of the digicam process and the somewhat hard-to-catch inflections of actor Giovanni Andrade (teenage Charley). The first half is slow, moody, and unwilling to tip its hand: one feels ambivalence toward the Brent Fellows character (Eban, age 29). Publicity shots show Fellows to be an acceptably handsome actor; but when we first see Eban, he is pale, stooped, unshaven, and the picture of a shattered soul. Those who leave at the midpoint--and I was tempted--will miss Eban's agonizingly slow growth, his gradual reawakening to warmth and human contact. They will also miss getting to know Charley, brought to life in Andrade's astonishingly detailed and sensitive portrayal through characteristic, near-dancelike movements and a slow, hesitant manner of speaking that rings absolutely true. If the parental figures are saddled with trite dialogue and minimal characterizations, I am more than willing to believe that this is fully intended by director James Bolton in service to his vision. I have now viewed the film three times, the last on DVD, and found more to admire each time around. (The DVD brings warmth to the faces of the principles not evident on the big screen.) In all, this is an admirable, subtle, and sensitive work that asks a lot of the audience, but gives a lot in return.