The Falls: Covenant of Grace [DVD]

An amazing movie and one of my favorites of the three in this trilogy. I liked them all, but was so pleased with the final outcome at the end. What a great finale to the saga! For those of us who grew up Mormon, perhaps the movie has a little more significance than it would for those unfamiliar with LDS (Latter-day Saint) culture but it's still a great story. Highly recommended.

Second parts are hard to write and pull off, let alone third parts. In this, the cast, writing and misse-en-scene deliver. The story is paced going through the subtle nuances of evolution of the self which is never a guarantee others will understand nor follow. When you add the spiritual component, one has the makings for great drama. Superb job.

"The Falls: Covenant of Grace" is a powerful film. To acknowledge that this is an independent production with the first film "The Falls" made for $7,000 and the second film "The Falls: Testament of Low" was at one point $18,000 in debt until a theatrical angel stepped in with $35.000 to help complete the film. The fact that this is the third film in an independently made trilogy speaks to the uphill battle director Jon Garcia had to get to this third film. The first two films are excellent, but the third is classic. It deals with the universal theme of love, its relationship to Deity and to the church, particularly as it applies to same-sex couples. Nick Ferrucci as RJ Smith goes deep to an emotional core that is powerful, understated and masterfully acted. The scene in the film where he comforts and counsels Ryan played Curtis Edward Jackson rips with emotional control, passion and insight. Benjamin Farmer who plays the other lead Chris Merrill is also amazing, a man torn by his devotion to his faith and human father and his realization of who he is as a man. When Chris comforts RJ in two panic attacks, the love and caring between the two men is amazing. As the film climaxes with the two united on the altar of a church different from their faith, it's a powerful statement, a covenant of grace. This is an amazing film for the writing, directing, music, cinematography, issues raised and performances. Bravo!

Three total films with a great ending. Seeing them married is a blessing. Raising that girl as a couple is inspiring. This is the way all lgbt should be. Rj is a cutie I must say but he is very nice. Seems like a great guy to know. Sentimental and affectionate plus he is very passionate about his beliefs.

If you watched the first two Falls movies and were left wondering what ever happened to those two guys then you'll definitely want to see Falls 3. I really hate watching an entire movie only to be left at the end thinking ... "what happened?" This story is differant. At the end of Falls one and two I imagined where this story was going. I am so glad the producer and director decided to give us "the rest of the story." Good or bad I love and ending, period. This third installment of the Falls doesn't disappoint.

Great trilogy of gay mormons learning to accept themselves and the love they feel for each other.

This is one film that very difficult to put in words. I always thought that "Latter Day" was the definitive film on this subject and for many years felt that way. You have to see this film, especially if you have had any interaction with 'LDS.' This is just one film that you dare not miss! It is the struggle with these two men in keeping their ongoing relationship stable, that really is something to see and hear!! NJMJr!!

This is the last of the three movies,That I have watched many times. I loved the end . While not common, it is more so now than before a true love story. This is the ending of the long building relationship that started in the first film and I am very happy it took this long to tell a complex story. With no short cuts. I also like the fact that while cute they are not pretty boys with rock hard abs.

Colis livré dans les délais prévus. Film excellent et attendu après "Testament of love".

I just got the final chapter of The Falls and couldn’t wait to watch it. I was trying to stay positive that this would have a happy ending. But each time they separated, my positivity waivered. I cried throughout watching those two people suffering because of the judgement of the church. I was baptized a Christiian in my 30’s, and went to church and Bible study, because I wanted to understand its message. I did this and had serious doubts about many passages, As my doubts increased. I began to question if I could be a Christian , so I left. It was many years later when I felt that pull to get back to church. I even sang in the choir. In spite of my zeal to get closer to God, I began to see cracks in the foundation which very disturbing and disappointing. One of the events sent me on a downward spiral to the point that I really challenged the words that were being preached to us. One Sunday, the Pastor devoted his sermon to the topic of homosexuality and trans people. He was irate that there was a trans person living on his street. He went on to say that sex between two people of the same gender is an abomination, a sin, and will not be condoned in the church. This sermon was prompted by Canada’s decision to legalize same sex marriage. Here was a man preaching the love of God and acceptance of anyone who enters the Church doors. He went on to declare holding up the Bible in one hand and pounding his fist on the podium with the other that as long as he was Pastor. he would never perform a marriage between a same-sex .couple. The crowning glory of his diatribe was asking for show of hands if you agree with him. 😱 really! I later learned that the drummer in the church band was told he could no longer play because he was gay. How’s that for Christian love! ? Eventually I became more disenchanted with what I saw and heard. so I left. I think it was Karl Marx who said that “religion is the opiate of the people.” I saw that in action , and that is a drug I will not take. Do I believe in God? Yes. Do I believe that the discriminatory, condemnation that fosters exclusion, not inclusion is the word of God? Absolution not! The marriage of the men in this movie was brimming with love, commitment, respect, acceptance, and passion, and that friends. is the love of God!

The Falls: Covenant of Grace Most if not all the reviews listed for this DVD on Amazon UK seem to relate to the first film in the series, so I have decided to write my own. I first watched The Falls last year and was happy to see that the second and third films had been released. Unlike the first, however, the two later ones are so far available here in the UK only as US (Region 1) imports. I bought the DVDs and can play them on my computer (but not my DVD player). Each time I watch the series, and especially Covenant of Grace, I appreciate more the insight and sensitivity of the director, Jon Garcia, and the two leading actors, in portraying the conflicts faced by gay men trying to combine acceptance of who they are (and its consequencies) with sincerely-held religious belief, in the face of non-acceptance and downright hostility from their church. It would be all too easy to say why bother, just be true to yourself and ditch the rest. But for Chris and RJ both things are part of who they are. Each starts off thinking they will be forced to make a choice between “love” and “God”. If Testament of Love is about Chris’s journey especially, coming to terms with who he is, and coming out to those around him, Covenant of Grace is about resolving the perceived conflict between love and God, if not yet their church. Each is afraid that the choice the other makes will exclude their love and a future together. In the end it is the refusal of each to be forced to make those choices which shines and triumphs and is so affirmative for those of us who have travelled this same road. Love and God “are the same.…even my daughter knows that”. Both of them “want it all” and refuse to settle for any less. They don’t quite achieve that but, by the end, you feel they are comfortable with each other, with their faith and with their families. For me it is the film’s triumph that it portrays this not just as a journey for Chris and RJ, but for their families and the LDS Church too . To say more would risk a spoiler. Here in the UK I have known gay couples with two men sharing life-time commitments to one another and their church. Nothing was said but the people that mattered knew. That is now changing: couples like Chris and RJ want their relationships recognised, accepted, affirmed. They are right, and my church along with others needs to look long and hard at its teachings and traditions. In these three films Chris and RJ have shared the story of their journey and I for one am grateful for that. It will stay with me for a long time.

nice ending

I'd already seen the first two episodes of this trilogy so had to see the third, hoping the two lads would overcome their difficulties and find a life in each other's arms. I hoped to see the wife who appeared in the 2nd episode again, but she didn't make an appearance (I thought she gave a very strong performance in Ep. 2, with echoes of Brokeback Mountain, when she saw her husband with the other lad). I agree with some of the previous comments, that there was a lot of quiet space in this episode, as though the writer had been fitted with a governor and couldn't produce too much dialogue, so to lengthen the film the guys spend a lot of time staring into each other's eyes and snugging foreheads, as shown in the cover illustration. Nice as this is, after a couple of snugs one just wants to get on with the story. Regarding all 3 episodes, I found it difficult to believe that two lads who'd been brought up to live cleanly would so easily succumb to alcohol and weed. To me, that negated the fact that avoiding deleterious substances is not because of a church rule, but because the human body wasn't designed to ingest such substances. Still, give a watch if you've already seen Ep 1 and 2, 'cause you gotta know if these two handsome lads finally connect.