Shelter (2007/II)

Director:

Jonah Markowitz

Writer:

Jonah Markowitz (writer)

Release Date:

16 April 2009 (Germany)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Sport

Plot:

When his college dreams are sidelined by family obligations, a young man finds comfort in surfing with his best friend's brother.

Plot Keywords:

Best Friend | Art School | College | Art | Surfing

Awards:

11 wins

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Trevor Wright	...	Zach
Brad Rowe	...	Shaun
Tina Holmes	...	Jeanne
Jackson Wurth	...	Cody
Katie Walder	...	Tori
Matt Bushell	...	Alan
Ross Thomas	...	Gabe
Albert Reed	...	Billy
Joy Gohring	...	Ellen
Don Margolin	...	Father John
Alejandro Patino	...	Moe
Caitlin Crosby	...	Shari
Alicia Sixtos	...	Amber
Tarek Zohdy	...	Gabe's Friend
Robbi Chong	...	Receptionist

MPAA:

Rated R for language, some sexual content and brief drug use.

Runtime:

97 min | Germany:90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:R | New Zealand:M

Filming Locations:

Malibu, California, USA

Company:

GP Pictures

Trivia:

Trevor Wright, Ross Thomas and Albert Reed already knew how to surf before the filming of this movie.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Shaun walks past Zach in the back of Zach's truck ("Just leave it, dude"), Shaun is carrying his long board. When he is running to the surf and first meets Cody, he is carrying a different, shorter board. This is only time in the film that Shaun uses anything other than a long board.

Quotes:

Shaun: You're so beautiful.
Zach: [laughs] Shut up.
Shaun: Hey, learn to take a compliment.
Zach: Thanks.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in My Big Break (2009)

Soundtrack:

Going Home

lyrical, sweet and poignant

I'm previewing a disc version for the Brisbane Queer Film Festival where Shelter screens on Saturday 24th May 2008. Even in this low res screener, Shelter shines as a film with huge heart, and one that's been made with equal care by the actors and all of the film-makers.

It's not at all like the angst-ridden abomination of a gay surf flick "Tan Lines". Surfing is simply a fact of life element in "Shelter" - it's not used or abused as a device.

"Shelter" is a beautifully edited, spectacular looking and luscious sounding film which is definitely character driven. Each of the main characters is carefully developed so that we quite soon decide that we really do care about Zach, his young nephew Cody and Zach's love interest, Shaun. We want things to work out for them.

We understand that Zach is in a bind - he's allowed himself to be the physical and emotional anchor for a progressively more dysfunctional family, but we know that he deserves much better life options. The writers and director of Shelter have done a fantastic job - not a look or word is wasted, and yet the whole pace of the film is very relaxed.

"Shelter" deserves every accolade that any individual or Festival might care to bestow.

Straight audiences must find "Shelter" to be equally rewarding. The film's theme is, after all, about love, honour and commitment. What could be more wholesome than that?