I Am Michael

San Francisco in 1998. Queer activist Michael is passionately committed to supporting gay and lesbian youths. His own deep longing to belong means that he is tirelessly engaged in redefining his own existence, absorbing with apparent ease young Tyler into his long-term relationship with his friend Bennett. The trio decides to travel America to record on film the lives of gay teenagers. They subsequently manage to raise the cash to launch Michael’s own LGBT magazine. But Michael isn’t happy with the way he’s living his life. Following a suspected heart attack he strives to find a way to balance sexuality and spirituality and decides to leave his chosen family and friends. After engaging in meditative contemplation and heterosexual experiments, he firmly embraces Christianity. In
his sensitive directorial debut, Justin Kelly deftly juxtaposes different periods of time to describe the unusual transformation of Michael Glatze, the co-founder of the magazine ‘Young Gay America’ and a one-time inspirational figure of the LGBT community who, after prolonged and persistent soulsearching, decided to reject homosexuality and become a preacher.

details

  • Runtime

    98 min
  • Country

    United States
  • Year of Presentation

    2015
  • Year of Production

    2015
  • Director

    Justin Kelly
  • Cast

    James Franco, Zachary Quinto, Emma Roberts, Avan Jogia, Carver Charlie, Daryl Hannah, Lesley Ann Warren, Jefferson Mays, Jan Maxwell, Ahna O'Reilly, Nick Rehberger, Leven Rambin, Kevin Cahoon
  • Production Company

    Patriot Pictures
  • Berlinale Section

    Panorama
  • Berlinale Category

    Feature Film

Biography Justin Kelly

Born in Van Nuys, California in 1980, he is a writer and director based in Los Angeles. He began by directing short films (FRONT, DEBRIS, GIRL!) which screened at festivals worldwide, and music videos for MTV. After working as a feature film producer (CRYPTIC, HIGHLAND PARK, THE WAIT), he returned to focusing on his own films, beginning with the Gus Van Sant produced biopic I AM MICHAEL

Filmography Justin Kelly

2007 Debris | 2008 Front | 2009 Girl | 2016 King Cobra | 2018 JT LeRoy | 2018 Welcome the Stranger

Biography James Franco

Born in Palo Alto, California in 1978, he is an actor, director, screenwriter and producer. He won many accolades for his performance in the title role of the TV movie JAMES DEAN and in feature films MILK and 127 HOURS. He has also appeared in, amongst others, SPIDER-MAN 1, 2 and 3. In 2010 his shorts FEAST OF STEPHEN and HERBERT WHITE screened in the Panorama.