Alkali, Iowa (1995) User Reviews

Iowa Life exposed and suppressed in late 20th Century down on the Farm

[G_P_ · 9/10 · 26 March 2019]

I encourage younger viewers especially to get a taste of what country farm life was & sadly still is towards LGBT. The few select gays which tried to subsist on the life they had in the this country way of life they could muster, to expose the few select partners to have any relationship, far from ideal by any means. Certain areas in the US still exist, but more prevalent worldwide. What sets this story apart is how, piece by piece, a young man uncovers the true self of his father, despite grandpa's terrible actions to try and erase who his son really was. Little clues are discovered, and this protagonist gets validation from his dad's friend, though the son has known of this older blonde man for sometime, finally is able to open his eyes fully to his true father's connection, and not the hero reputation he should have had. A relief of only one brief scary scene, a film worth seeing not marred by tragic or violent consequences, that in itself makes this film a must see for LGBT.

about legacy

[Kirpianuscus · 1 July 2017]

or only a form of it. a box and its content. Midwest. the grandfather, the mother and the sister. a picture of Jacko. and a stranger who could give the answer. the film is interesting first for atmosphere. and for the way to give light to a story who seems be change everything. because it is a certitude who, in bizarre manner, defines the word legacy in a special way. the delicate way to say the story is one of virtues. the other - the suggestions. about the old man memories about not noble past, about the secret life of father, about a relation who continuous with his son. maybe, in not the same obscurity. the air of Midwest. this is the basic gift of this film.

Gay in the Midwest

[Horst_In_Translation · 4/10 · 24 December 2016]

"Alkali, Iowa" is an American 17-minute live action short film. This one is from 1995, so it is already over 20 years old. Writer and director is Mark Christopher and the main character is played by J.D. Cerna. These two, as well as pretty much everybody else did not manage to succeed with big careers in the two decades after this short film. One cast member is a BAFTA nominee from the 1970s, but that's the limit. I personally do not think this one here would be really as known as it is without the inclusion in the famous gay-themed films collection "Boys Life". Then again, I have seen worse gay-themed (short) films. Many actually. The solid thing here is that it does not try to be as important and spectacular as some other films from this genre and that's why it feels pretty realistic I guess. The problem, however, is that it is also not particularly interesting at all. I cannot recommend the watch here, even if subtlety in gay-themed films was nice for a change. Thumbs down and I suggest you watch something else.