I just watched all 3 movies. Both the second and third were outright tearjerkers. The third had me crying from the start to the finish. Nick Ferrucci was incredibly convincing in his portrayal of a gay man deeply in love with another gay man. The intimate scenes between him and his male partner, Chris, were very tender, relaxed and realistic. As a gay man, I saw this film more as an idealized, gay romance, where the lead characters are actual soulmates destined to be together forever. I have serious doubts that very many actual gay LTRs are as monogamous or able to sustain the level of profound devotion, starting at age 20, depicted in this film. Still, the raw realness of every character's emotions was fully understood and highlighted what all humans share, the need to be accepted, to love and be loved. I am so glad directors are finally making movies where gay men can actually get married and live happily ever after. It sets an example for the next generation of gay men. Loved Nick's acting so much...his teary eyes acted as magnets, a window into his soul.
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ohlabtechguy22 January 2017
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dallas_viewer4 February 2017Disclosure: Straight middle-aged woman here.
MINOR SPOILER included below.
Wow, never heard of this trilogy before. Then I noticed TF:CoG was among the new DVDs recently added to our local library collection. (I was kind of surprised, since I live in a pretty conservative mid-western city.)
Anyway, I was so impressed by the acting in this story! The performances were so good, at times I felt like a voyeur, witnessing intimate moments I had no business seeing.
Nick Ferrucci's portrayal particularly came across as so honest, so truthful, it blew me away. The vulnerability expressed through his eyes was very convincing. Hope to see more of him in the future.
The story itself was compelling. I've never seen a movie where two men were sweetly and passionately in love, emotionally and physically. Always a sucker for a good romance, I found this as satisfying as any M/F movie romance. I was a little surprised, though, that one of the characters who seemed adamantly opposed to the M/M relationship "came around" by the end of the movie. I'd have preferred that not happen, as I think it would have (sadly) been more realistic.
Now I have to go track down the first two installments of this trilogy. :-) -
earl-rose25 July 2019It is so unusual to see an actual film trilogy. And one that is about a gay relationship. Each film does stand on its own but don't make the mistake of dipping here and there. See it from beginning to end. Many gay films while very satisfying do not have the time to show the depth that is involved in committing to long term same sex relationships. So many hurdles. Add the complications of both men being Mormon. Even tougher to see through. I like that we are taught to underestand if not accept the complications of being Mormon and gay. The pressures. Well, here it is. It took three very good films to do it well. With as much respect for believers as one would have for parents or friends who still held a faith that set us apart from them. Great cinematography, wonderful acting. And the sex is as hot as it can be. Well, "the garment" gets in the way a bit but the men figure their way around that.
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As someone who has battled some of the same self loathing these characters have endured in this trilogy, this holds a special place in my heart. All three films are fantastic, the last is one that will take you on the emotional roller coaster of the century. By now in this trilogy you already know and love the characters. The purity of the love between Christopher and R.J. Is something to be treasured. There is of course lust but love comes before lust in every sense. I haven't cried so much at a movie in many years. The acting is superb and the chemistry of the lead actors is out of this world. I highly recommend starting at the beginning of the trilogy, that way you can see how beautifully these characters are developed. This trilogy hits home for a lot of the GLBTQ community that have come from religious upbringing. Please give these films a chance. You will not be disappointed.
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Kirpianuscus27 February 2024Obvious, more dramatic than the first part. More emotional. And, in good measure, more profound. After six years after the first part, The Falls is not reduced at a relation between two young mormons but at their determination to change significant things in their lives , to induce a different perspective to society about basic things.
Well acted, it is a film of emotions, some just powerful ones.
But its basic virtue remains the admirable beauty, profound, precise - inspired crafted, seductive and real kick for special form of wake up for audience.
Like the first part, it is not exactly a manifesto but a honest at whole confession. Convincing and moving. -
justahunch-7054914 December 2022Not sure how you could review this without spoilers as it's the end of a trilogy. The first film was simple and pretty impressive, the second had a much more intricate plot and many problems, but this is an improvement, though the writing is a bit hit and miss. The production values have improved with each film and some of this is very nice looking. Chris does not come across as a potential villain as he did in the second and seems happy in Salt Lake City with his child and the church and R. J. seems content in his successful career in Portland done with the church. They come together again, twice, are still in love and still have the church's stance in between them, but It all gets resolved with all parents now backing them, they get married, R. J. moves to Salt Lake and hopefully they live happy ever after. I'm sort of glossing over this a bit as all three films have pretty much been the same theme and it is starting to get stretched a little thin, though it ultimately moved me. Same sex love vs. The Church of the Latter Day Saints. Love ultimately wins and that made for a happy ending for two people in love, but apart, for a very long time. It would have been a major bummer to have watched three films to only come to a negative ending, though I suppose there are people who think this is a negative ending, much like Chris' brother, but I doubt those types would have watched any of these three films.
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souldancer-7214915 December 2016Producer, Writer and Director Jon Garcia's trilogy spanning, The Falls, The Falls: Testament of Love and now The Falls: Covenant of Grace allows me to wander around emotions of wonder, inspiration, hope as well as despair. I wonder why Garcia (a straight man) chose to dedicate precious resources (time, money, reputation) to write, produce and direct three content rich docudramas focused on dogma all too many same-sex oriented souls daily face.
How did Garcia inspire two clearly talented straight actors (Benjamin Farmer and Nick Ferrucci) to dive deep enough into their respective characters that I thought they were members of my tribe (gay men). Garcia's trilogy direction tenderly allowed Farmer ("Chris Merrill") and Ferrucci ("RJ Smith") to blossom from tormented closeted characters to a happy, out gay couple ready, willing and able to face the entrenched dogma of their chosen faith. I wonder - will Garcia's aptly portrayed real-life chaos within same-sex Mormon families create adequate discussion inside and out of The Church of Latter-day Saints (LDS) to inspire action to resolve the despair it intentionally creates? Garcia's decision to shape his lead characters (Chris and RJ) into potential LDS change agents inspires hope. Hope based on the positive portrayal of healthy, stable gay married couple ready to live life with no regrets (regardless of the despair their dogma creates).
In the final of this trilogy - The Falls: Covenant of Grace - thanks to the vision of both Garcia and co-writer Rodney Moore LDS has a road map in which to evolve. Will LDS choose to walk this road or will it decide - much like other dying faiths - choose self-inflicted extinction as decades melt into centuries.
Witness a solid portrayal of the wisdom within Margaret Mead's wisdom (quote): "Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have.
Thank you to Garcia, Moore and the entire cast and crew for showing us how to be the change our world needs.
From risk to rewards - a trilogy filled with faith, hope and love... -
mhubbard-546578 July 2018Covenant of Grace is part III of the wonderful Falls trilogy by Jon Garcia . If you have loved the first 2 films, this will not disappoint.
It is 7 years after their mission. While both of the mission companions are now out of the closet, Chris, who lives in Salt lake city, still hopes to somehow reconcile his love for another man with the anti-gay doctrines of the LDS church. His church tells him that he can be gay, as long as he is celibate.
Meanwhile, RJ is making a life for himself in Portland, making friends with fellow members of a gay ex-Mormon support group. He invites Chris for a weekend. At first it is awkward, but they soon make love. The next day they clash over church doctrine, and RJ has a panic attack. Chris helps him through it, but Chris returns home, with their relationship still unsettled.
Events, large and small, finally convince Chris that they should be together, no matter what anyone thinks, and there is a happy ending.
Now for the 10 star review. There are few, if any, films that make you feel like a camera has accidentally been left on in someone's living room, or bedroom. Such is the natural intimacy and realism of this trilogy.
Here is a beautiful love story that makes you completely forget "straight or gay." It seems that was the director's intent, and I applaud him.
Both actors are very convincing in their roles, but Nick Ferrucci's performance is amazing.
The film is haunting, compelling, and simply unforgettable. -
seanfraney25 July 2018Having recently watched the triology, it was so nice to see the happy ending for the couple!!! The cinematography and rawness I felt may have been better in the first film, maybe this came with the low budget, however the actors still performed amazingly and this gives the watcher a close insight into their intricate thoughts and emotions.
Has to be one of the best film series of my life. The emotion and the love you see between the characters really has an effect on you. I'm still sat here listening to the theme song (available on iTunes and Apple Music) days later because the film really pulled my heartstrings. -
prasanttrimurthy26 December 2017So far in my life, I must say, I have not seen anything as beautiful as this movie, and as divine. I feel humble and proud to have watched such an authentic gay drama - a soulful journey of deep love (between two men) and its ability to survive despite all the repressions.
It is with overwhelming pleasure that I watched this film and almost wished it would never end. As I am writing this, I remember how I eavesdropped and relished their tearful dialogues as if I was right there in their room. I can say with reckless conviction that no other gay-themed film did or will touch the depth of authentic love-rich emotions as this one did.
So many iconic elements I loved about this spellbinding gay phenomenon: including its memorable romantic scenes, passionate intimacy, & unquenched longings, heartfelt affection & tender sentiments, mature empathy and committed monogamy.
For once, it inspires us to reinstate our lost belief in devoted love and value of small sacrifices. It is also about how love, through the phase of separation, grows deeper, desperate and more intense...so that when lovers actually meet back their mutual passions relinquish their desire to stop at it.
The story is utterly endearing, strongly impassioned, surprisingly emotive...and so delicately presented that you can't help falling for its charm. Not a single most romantic movie I have seen, straight or gay, has narrated a tale of powerful, true love like the one that materializes between Chris and RJ - the one that patiently breaks every malignant boundaries imposed by the world around us.
The two lead actors have delivered sublime performances creating an unforeseen, original chemistry that speak of genuine feelings. I am never going to dare forget this film ever; it will linger forever in my heart. -
julierom11 April 2019I would have given this a 10 but I didn't for two reasons: Nick Ferrucci's beard.....covers up his beautiful face and is not attractive on him. And the characters of his lesbian friends are annoying! I could have done without them. Other than that, the performances by Ferrucci and Farmer are absolutely perfect! Their chemistry is palpable and their journey is now complete though I hate to see the series end. The cinematography is beautiful as there are a lot more outdoor scenes this time around. There is another character that is very endearing this time around and that is the character of Ryan, the younger ex-missionary. A very touching part of the story. Kudos to Jon Garcia for a great trilogy of films. The music is wonderful too and the story is engaging and the last two scenes will require you to have Kleenex handy!
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josephh-252098 October 2020After watching this movie I think this is the best film I have ever seen. Through out the movie I just cried all the way from beginning to end and the main actors in this movie are wonderful actors and thank you for the director for making a tearful and emotional movie.
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hkxkkgr17 February 2022I recently found this movie and then learned it was a trilogy. Then proceeded to bing watch the trilogy. The. Watched them again the next day. Just all the feels. When you see love stories wether straight or gay somehow it seems forced and the acting is noticeable or you think this doesn't seem right. The raw emotion portrayed by both actors and the resulting impacts of their (faith) religion and the pressure to honor the family just hit so close to home. The portrayal of Ricky(RJ) and the results of panic attacks due to the trauma of it all, and the roller coaster of Chris and the lengths he goes to honor his family especially his father just brought me ti my knees emotionally.
The resulting ending and the journey the characters and their trailing families portrayed gave me all the feels and someone who's known for hiding emotion all I could do was cry.
This is it, this is what we have. This is what we've been fighting for, and it was worth it.
Yes it was!
Renewed my faith in love, faith and family.
Thank you. Do not watch one, watch them all and together...and watch them often. -
davel-867505 January 2020Oh my god. They are really good actor. Exelent stories. Please make the 3 one. PLEASE
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fbianco-9986227 June 2022I think I've now watched the entire trilogy like 10 times. Wish Nick Ferrucci would make more than just TV commercials. His performance from the beginning to the end evolved amazingly. As for being low budget the production quality is great.
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cruisebear-239305 April 2024I've seen a great many movies and only a few of them have the authenticity to blow you out of your senses! I felt like a fly on the wall witnessing something so extraordinary. This movie caps a trilogy of highly poignant gut wrenching stories about how Love finally wins out. It amazes me how much opposition to human feelings institutions such as organized religion has? My Brother is a Mormon Minister and it's a shame that I can never share this movie with him. The so called 12 apostles who rule over LDS is opposed to same sex love to the point of being terrified. What are they afraid of? All you have to do, is relax, get in touch with your natural feelings and recognize authentic Love. Any kind of judgement is innately negative and destructive. Love is Love, let's just embrace it and one another?
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myronlearn20 October 2023I watched the three parts of this depiction of how religion can sometimes be obstacles to achieving certain personal goals and aspirations. In this case, RJ and Chris, two devout Mormons, fall in love during a mission at which they're both partnered. Needless to say, same sex relationships are not only strongly frowned upon, but considered highly immoral and banned within the overall church. They try to find a way to navigate and make it work against the backdrop of the Church doctrine condemning their love. Certainly this type of condemnation is not limited to the Church of Latter Day Saints but also exists within many other religions around the world. I have to say that the writing, direction and acting in all three segments were positive. Nick Ferucci and Ben Farmer are the lead actors who play the beleaguered couple. Their families (especially their fathers) and friends deliver solid performances. Without giving anything away, I thought parts of the trilogy, including the ending, were a bit far fetched. However, they in no way undermined the overall spirit of this excellent series.