Wise Kids, The
New York Times Critic’s Pick!
A Story of Faith, Sexuality, Love and Friendship!
In this highly acclaimed drama, gay teen Tim and his two best friends Laura and Brea spend their last summer before college grappling with their feelings about the fundamentalist Baptist beliefs of their families, and prepping for the Passion Play at their church. Preacher’s daughter Brea is having a crisis of faith while Laura quotes Leviticus to Tim.
Tim draws strength from the support of his PFLAG Dad as he copes with the twists and turns of late adolescence — including a complex relationship with the church drama teacher who struggles with his own sexuality (a tremendous performance by filmmaker Stephen Cone).
The Wise Kids is one of those rare films that both transcend and embody the label “gay film.” The story resonates intensely with gay viewers while simultaneously offering a universal story of immediate emotional impact to all audiences. Written, directed and acted with perfect poise and confidence (including a stand-out turn by Tyler Ross, Nate & Margaret, Milkshake) as Tim, this complex and beautiful film is an unforgettable gem — an authentic and insightful portrayal of youth, faith and coming of age.
Check out Stephen Cone’s THE WISE KIDS, also on the Wolfe label.
Awards & Press Quotes
***Winner of the GRAND JURY AWARDS for Outstanding US Narrative Feature and
Outstanding US Screenwriting at Outfest***
…as well as SIX additional awards, including:
Winner of the AUDIENCE AWARD for Best Narrative Feature at NewFest
Winner of the SHOUT GRAND JURY AWARD for Best Narrative Feature at Birmingham’s Sidewalk/SHOUT
Winner of the SHOUT AUDIENCE AWARD for Best Narrative Feature at Birmingham’s Sidewalk/SHOUT
Winner of the JURY AWARD for Best Narrative Feature at Atlanta’s Out on Film
Winner of the JURY AWARD for Best Ensemble at Atlanta’s Out on Film
Winner of the JURY AWARD for Best Domestic Feature at Outflix Memphis
“A tenderhearted gem. To call THE WISE KIDS a Christian movie or a gay movie, or even a gay Christian movie, would be to force a label on this touching, low-key drama with no axes to grind. Unfailingly kind to its characters, THE WISE KIDS is devoid of the evangelical versus secular rhetoric of today’s culture wars that seeps into most movies addressing religion.” -Stephen Holden, The New York Times
“Among the best of a recent spate of dramas observing American Christian life…featuring a brilliant cast of young actors.” -Robert Koehler, Variety
“Honest, observant and subtle.” – Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
“FIVE out of FIVE… a sweet, Southern, slice-of-life masterpiece.” –Metro Weekly
“As solid an indie coming-of-age drama as we’ve ever seen.” — Video Tape Worm
“This is the most even-handed, insightful and breathtakingly authentic film about people of faith I’ve ever seen… Not only is The Wise Kids the best film of 2012, it is a gift to all viewers disgusted with America’s tirelessly polarizing culture. I honestly can’t think of a better present for Christmas.” — Indie Outlook
Number 1 on Indie Outlook Top Films of 2012 List!
Included on four BEST OF 2011 Lists: Michael Phillips (Chicago Tribune), J.R. Jones (Chicago Reader),
Gary Kramer (Slant Magazine/Indiewire), Rob Christopher (Chicagoist)
