Chris & Don: A Love Story

I watched Chris & Don: A Love Story this Friday when it opened at Dobie. The documentary is told from the perspective of an elderly painter Don Bacardy who had a long romance with writer Chris Isherwood. Their relationship was considered unconventional not only because they were openly gay during a time when most of Hollywood was closeted but because Don was 15 and Chris was 45 when they first met on the California beaches. Isherwood died in 1986 from cancer so his side of the story is told from excerpts read aloud from his diaries by narrator Michael York. York was also the star of Cabaret (a film that was based on Isherwood's Berlin Stories). It is unfortunate that this is the only way to get Isherwood's perspective on their relationship. Obviously, had the documentary been made while Isherwood was still alive there perhaps could have been a much deeper examination of their relationship.

During the entire documentary, there is only one archival interview of Chris which is very brief and only mentions the film Cabaret which brought Isherwood his success as a writer. Scholars and curators are shown throughout lamenting on his life and feelings (sort-of like an A&E biography). I always have a hard time with this style of documentary because it is hard for me to consider information valid or accurate when it isn't coming from either the person themselves or close friends/family members. In fact, I was disappointed that the interviews with Don did not delve further into their relationship, the first 30 minutes of the film is simply Don discussing very trivial issues such as his favorite artifacts throughout his beach house. There were also times when scholars would talk about issues from Don's point-of-view when they could have just as well come from Don himself. Although, perhaps this was a way to bring about subject matter that Don would not have mentioned even if interrogated. The documentary never really focuses to much on the moral question of whether it was appropriate of Isherwood to sleep with such a young individual and introduce him to his first experience with drugs. Of course, the documentary was not made to make Isherwood or the relationship look bad. After all, their relationship lasted longer than most peoples up until Chris' actual death. Although, it was definitely not a perfect romance (not that there is such a thing) and at some point the age difference took a toll on Don who felt that he was not able to experience life fully (or rather sexually) living with someone so much older. The couple began an open relationship that nearly tore them apart. The documentary uses some reenactments (not very good ones) and archival footage that Isherwood photographed with no sound. There is also some cute animation involving a cat and a horse which were two animals that the lovers used when corresponding in letters. Overall, it was a mildly interesting documentary but there I think there are far more interesting gay couples out there and the style of the documentary just didn't work too well for me but it had its moments.