Review of Bad Education

This is an intelligent portrayal of the lives of gay men, perhaps autobiographical, that strikes universal chords. It is frankly erotic, but in the context of telling a story. You do not necessarily like the characters, but they are complex and three dimensional. For those of us who like to lose ourselves in a movie, and not critique it as it unreels, the movie has plenty of suspense, action, and mystery. It is one of those movies you leave, debating the plot twists with your movie companion. This is a visually appealing work, not only of the characters but of the different locales shown in the firm. The film sticks with you long after you have seen it. The underlying themes of child molestation, and the power of adults in the lives of children give the film gravitas. Some scenes in the movie will no doubt bring back haunting memories to many film goers, both straight and gay. Notwithstanding the seriousness of these issues, this is not a polemic against the Church. Rather it is a multi layered exploration of complex relationships that clearly fall outside the limits of what we consider acceptable.