Shelter **** (2007, Trevor Wright, Brad Rowe, Tina Holmes) – Classic Movie Review 12,329

Writer/ director Jonah Markowitz’s super-nice, tremendously optimistic 2007 feel-good romantic drama gay movie Shelter is persuasively done, with a winning performance by Trevor Wright as Zach, a slightly lost aspiring young artist living in San Pedro, California.

He has put off his dream of going to art school to work and help his older sister Jeanne (Tina Holmes), his disabled father, and his five-year-old nephew Cody (Jackson Wurth). Working as a short-order cook, Zach paints, surfs, and hangs out with his on/off girlfriend Tori (Katie Walder) and his buddy Gabe (Ross Thomas).

Things change dramatically when Gabe’s handsome older brother Shaun (Brad Rowe) comes back home from Los Angeles for a few weeks. Zach and Shaun go surfing together and develop a close friendship, a very close friendship.

Zach has picked the right guy, as Shaun is kind, concerned and capable, and what’s more great with little Cody, but Zach isn’t any more ready to commit to Shaun than he is to commit to his art. Perhaps he’s a surfing, skateboarding slacker at heart, more of a kid than a man. Besides he’s got a family of his own, but they’re no support, his sister is a bit of a homophobic user, not too much, just a bit, his dad needs care, and Cody is nice but needy. And girlfriend Tori and buddy Gabe look like they’re gonna be more problems. Zach is going to have to grow up and get real, and various life events are going to help him.

It is such a warm and friendly film, just begging for a happy ending that doesn’t really seem possible in the circumstances. It’s great that Jonah Markowitz is able to provide that happy ending in a joyful emotional surge at the climax, while throwing in a lot of credible harsh obstacles along the way to Zach’s happy future. Markowitz’s dialogue is involving and good, giving the actors a smooth ride.

It was the winner of Outstanding Film – Limited Release at the 2009 GLAAD Media Awards, Best New Director and Favorite Narrative Feature at the Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, and the People’s Choice Award for Best Feature at the Vancouver Queer Film Festival.

It is the feature directorial debut of Markowitz.

It was filmed in 21 days, primarily in San Pedro and Laguna Beach, California, and in Bel Air and Malibu, California. The film frequently shows the Vincent Thomas Bridge in Los Angeles Harbour as a motif. The settings are a vital component of the movie, both visually and emotionally.

The featured artwork is by L.A artist Ryan Graeff.

The soundtrack features original music by Grammy Award-winning singer/ songwriter Shane McAnally (credited to Shane Mack).

The cast are Trevor Wright as Zach, Brad Rowe as Shaun, Tina Holmes as Jeanne, Jackson Wurth as Cody, Ross Thomas as Gabe, Katie Walder as Tori, Albert Reed as Billy, Joy Gohring as Ellen, Matt Bushell as Alan, Caitlin Crosby as Shari, and Raquel Justin as Blue.

It premiered at the 31st Frameline Film Festival in San Francisco on 16 June 2007 and played at more than 100 film festivals worldwide and won 27 Best Of awards.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,329

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