Thank Gawd Ah was not wearing make-up layust night! Ah would hayuv made a big mess. The struggles we go through as we trah to balance our homosexuality with our beliefs … and our families … is the core of Latter Days.

Christian (Wesley A. Ramsey)[Ah thought it was a cute tongue-in-cheek name for this charactah.) is a handsome young man who flits from guy to guy without much of a thought in his pretty little head. All his co-workers at Lila's restaurant expect only the latest bedroom report from him. So when his roommate Julie (Rebekah Jordan) discovers that the gorgeous group of young men next door are Mormon missionaries, Christian bets he can bed one of them. Christian quickly moves in for the kill, targeting Elder Aaron Davis (Steve Sandvoss). Their initial encounters have a charged sexual tension, but fear of the devil keeps Aaron's libido at bay. When the two find themselves alone together they kiss passionately. Aaron's Mormon roommates interrupt, spot their brother as a homo and send him back in shame to his Idaho hometown and embarrassed parents.

It is at this point we see a bit inside Mormon society and how it works so deeply into the lives of its people. And, this too, is where we witness Aaron struggle to balance his old life and all it entails with his new life. It's a remarkable "coming out" journey.

C. Jay Cox wrote and directed this film, as well as the great film Sweet Home Alabama which included a great gay character but Latter Days is clearly a project of love. All of the acting is first-rate, including Amber Benson as Christian's co-worker, Mary Kay Place as Aaron's stern mother and Jacqueline Bisset as Christian's restaurant boss who harbors her own secrets (a B-plot whose sole intent is to heighten the emotional context of the film and possibly, give Jaqueline some "acting room.").

If you hayuv not seen this - SEE IT! If you have not purchased this for your collection - BUY IT NOW!

2003, 107 min

Country: US

Studio: TLA Releasing

Cast: Steve Sandvoss, Wes Ramsey, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Rebekah Jordan, Amber Benson, Khary Payton, Jim Ortlieb, Erik Palladino, Mary Kay Place, Jacqueline Bisset

Director: C. Jay Cox

Screenwriter: C. Jay Cox

Rating: Unrated