Ben’s “Gay” Breakdown | “The Falls: Covenant of Grace”
As part of my movie watching for TGGeeks I’ve decided to take a look at the third and final film of a trilogy for the LGBTQ community that has probably flown under most people’s radar, and the film I’m going to examine is The Falls: Covenant of Grace.
It’s been 7 years since we first saw RJ Smith and Chris Merrill as Missionaries for The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints (shown in The Falls), and there have been some changes in the lives of these two men. Chris is no longer in Pharmaceutical Sales and has instead chosen to apply for Law School. RJ has relocated from Seattle and is now living in Portland and working as an Editor for some publication, as well as continuing to write books. When the film starts we realize it has been a full year since RJ and Chris have been together, and they are going to try to “start over.” Unfortunately it doesn’t go very well. Their reunion is awkward at first as they don’t quite know how to relate to one another, especially considering how RJ had disrupted the Anniversary Celebration for Chris’ parents back in Salt Lake City some years earlier. After a time they manage to relax and lower their barriers just enough for some feelings of love and intimacy to return between the two of them. Then there is the issue of this new friend that RJ has, another returned missionary who got sent home for feelings of same-sex attraction with his companion, only this young man only has eyes for RJ. Unfortunately that is the least of their worries as two major events occur that rock the worlds of both of them. First is the edict from the Church stating that children of same-sex couples will not be baptized into the church, and the second is the sudden passing of Chris’ mother.
Chris seems doesn’t seem too taken aback by this news from the Church as he is on the same path that RJ was on when we saw him in The Falls: Testament of Love. He continues to adhere to the principles of the church, he prays regularly and continues to wear his Temple Garments, whereas RJ started to separate himself from all of that towards the end of Testament, and believes himself to be essentially divorced from the Church. That doesn’t alter his reaction when he learns of this news as he finds himself deeply offended that an institution like the LDS Church would make a move like that. For him this only solidifies his resolve. Then there is the issue of the passing of Chris’ mom. When RJ and his father agree to an invitation from Chris to attend the memorial it reopens feelings of unhappiness and even some resentment with Chris’ family. However, it isn’t until Noah Merrill (Chris’ father) sees RJ experience a severe panic attack and then watches his son go to RJ’s side and be there and help him ride the attack out. Later he sees a Gay Pride celebration where there is very briefly a sign remembering those whose lives were tragically lost at the Pulse shooting in Orlando. This stirs something in Noah as he feels his heart become significantly softened towards the disenfranchised, and very much discriminated and persecuted, LGBTQ+ community. But is this enough to turn the tide of the Church, and can RJ and Chris ever find the type of happiness they’re both searching for?
The Falls: Covenant of Grace might not have some of the shocking elements that were brought up in either of the first two films, but that does not diminish what it does accomplish. For RJ and Chris, as well as with Noah and Tom, we see them finally come to a place of healing and reconciliation where they can feel free to be who they are, and the two times that I have seen this film (Yes, I have watched it twice!) I too have rediscovered a place of peace in my heart. Because of the power and integrity of all three of these films, especially with The Falls: Covenant of Grace, I can find myself standing alongside RJ and Chris and say, despite what any organization might argue, that I am a Proud Gay Mormon.